Cracking Europe's Glass Ceiling: European Parliament backs Commission's Women on Boards proposal

EU News 479/2013

IP/13/1118
Brussels, 20 November 2013

The European Parliament has today voted with an overwhelming majority (459 for, 148 against and 81 abstentions) to back the European Commission’s proposed law to improve the gender balance in Europe’s company boardrooms. The strong endorsement by the Members of the European Parliament means the Commission’s proposal has now been approved by one of the European Union’s two co-legislators. Member States in the Council now need to reach agreement on the draft law, amongst themselves and with the European Parliament, in order for it to enter the EU statute book. The plenary vote follows a clear endorsement for the Commission’s initiative from the Parliament’s two leading committees, the Legal Affairs (JURI) and Women’s Rights & Gender Equality (FEMM) committee on 14 October 2013 (IP/13/943). The most recent figures confirm that, following the Commission's determined action in this area, the share of women on boards across the EU has been on the rise for the past three years and has now reached 16.6%, up from 15.8% in October 2012 (see Annex 1 and MEMO/13/882).

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1118_en.htm?locale=en

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