Press Release: European Commission weighs options to break the ‛glass ceiling’ for women on company boards

A European Commission report published on 5 March 2012 shows that limited progress towards increasing the number of women on company boards has been achieved one year after EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called for credible self-regulatory measures.

Just one in seven board members at Europe's top firms is a woman (13.7%). This is a slight improvement from 11.8% in 2010. However, it would still take more than 40 years to reach a significant gender balance (at least 40% of both sexes) at this rate.

ESO: Background Information: Speech: Increasing gender balance on company boards: Good for businesses and the economy http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-increasing-gender-balance-on-company-boards-good-for-businesses-and-the-economy/

European Commission: Memo/12/173: Statement by EU Justice Commissioner Reding on the European Parliament’s resolution on equality between women and men in the European Union http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/173&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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