Giving women equal opportunities in the business world

In an ideal world gender equality in business would be a given, but in reality corporate boards are still dominated by men. To ensure more equal access to the top of the corporate ladder, the Parliament voted for binding rules requiring that at least 40% of non-executive boards members at EU-listed companies are women.

Symbolic image for women's quota ©BELGA/Imagebroker/C.Ohde
Women could soon have a greater say in companies ©BELGA/Imagebroker/C.Ohde

Introducing quotas for women could help to improve opportunities for them in companies. Today, they represent only 15% of the non-executive members of boards of the biggest EU companies and only 2.4 % of executive directors.


The proposal was backed by the women's rights and legal affairs committees in October and approved by MEPs on 20 November. To take effect, the directive needs to be endorsed by member states.


Further information