National Council of Women of Malta - Promoting Equality of Opportunities

Women on Boards: Vice-President Viviane Reding and Markus Klimmer, Managing Director at Accenture di

Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner, met with Markus Klimmer, Managing Director at Accenture, today to discuss how best to improve gender balance on company boards.

NCW congratulates Maltese Women MEPs

The National Council of Women welcomes the news that three women have been elected as MEPs, giving women a 50% presence amongst the six Maltese MEPs.

WOMEN: 59 days in 2013 before equal remuneration in Europe

Dublin, 01/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - It is only from 28 February this year that women in Europe started to earn the same salary as men. An additional 59 days are therefore needed for women to reduce the pay gap - which this year still stands at 16.2% according to figures published by the European Commission.

(AE) WOMEN: Consultation and future action on genital mutilation

Brussels, 13/02/2013 (Agence Europe) -European Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Viviane Reding is preparing to launch a public consultation and concrete initiatives to tackle female genital mutilation in March. During the period of the consultation, a conference, organised with other Commissioners, on the fight against violence against women will be held.

AE) WOMEN: Already more women on company boards after quota proposal

Brussels, 25/01/2013 (AgenceEurope) - The European Commission believes that its controversial proposal on a quota of women on company boards could be bearing fruit. It notes that in less than a year, twice as many women are now on company boards in Europe, with a significant increase in the large majority of member states. Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding seized the moment to present these encouraging results to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday 25 January.

WOMEN: 50/50 declaration for parity in institutions after 2014

Brussels, 22/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - MEPs are now ready to do battle to defend equality in the European institutions after the 2014 elections. A “multi-party” declaration was presented on Wednesday 22 November at the European Parliament during the plenary session.

(AE) WOMEN: Parliamentary pressure to counter domestic violence

Brussels, 19/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Five MEPs are putting pressure on the EU to ratify the international convention to prevent and combat violence against women. Mikael Gustafsson (GUE/NGL, Sweden), Barbara Matera (EPP, Italy), Antonya Parvanova (ALDE, Bulgaria), Raül Romeva (Greens/EFA, Spain) and Britta Thomsen (S&D, Denmark) are urging their colleagues to sign a written declaration in this connection. The declaration calls on the EU to ratify the Council of Europe convention on tackling domestic violence and violence against women. It also urges member states to subsequently take action against this phenomenon.

(AE) WOMEN: Nicosia progresses pay gap debate

Brussels, 31/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Cypriot Presidency is pushing the pay gap debate forwards - the difference in pay between men and women still being on average 16% in Europe. At a conference organised in Cyprus on this topic on 29-30 October, the Presidency concluded that the reduction of this pay gap comes through “promoting social dialogue and tripartite cooperation as a way of tackling this problem”.

(AE) WOMEN: Reding is snubbed - quotas deferred until mid-November Brussels, 23/10/2012 (Agence Euro

The quota of 40% women on bluechip company boards has been postponed, but Viviane Reding is determined not to give up her highly controversial proposal for a directive. She promises that the dossier will be back on the Commission agenda by the end of November, when it will be stronger and more open to subsidiarity. Reding, who is optimistic, said that after a century-long battle her proposal could wait another couple of weeks

(AE) WOMEN: Moment of truth for Reding and corporate quotas

Brussels, 22/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The College of Commissioners may sweep away with one hand the proposal to bring in a 40% quota for women on management boards in European companies quoted on the stock exchange, a proposal that Commissioner Viviane Reding plans to submit on Tuesday.

Women - Reding bases argument on subsidiarity quotas

Brussels, 05/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Viviane Reding, the commissioner responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, has already been able to get into her stride with regard to feminine quotas in large companies - ahead of time and on converted ground.

The EWL has written to the European Commission and Member States

The EWL has written to the European Commission and Member States in response to a letter signed by 9 countries against a proposed EU Directive to increase the number of women on boards across Europe. Although well below our expectations, the EWL is giving its full backing to Commissioner Reding’s proposal, and calling on all parties to do the same.

(AE) WOMEN: ECB, letter from Goulard to Juncker on parity

Brussels, 18/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - French liberal MEP, Sylvie Goulard, has directly addressed the president of Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, to again draw attention to the question of respecting equal opportunities for women when appointing the sixth member of the European Central Bank board of governors. The economic and financial committee, of which Goulard is a member, effectively suspended the hearing of Yves Mersch for a post on the board of governors, due to the lack of gender balance on the board.

(AE) WOMEN: Greens favour quotas and hit back at nine blocking states

Brussels, 20/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Greens are hitting back at the intention of nine member states not to support Viviane Reding's awaited proposal on setting a quota of 40% women on the boards of bluechip companies.

Women on Boards: Viviane Reding meets with leaders of Europe's business schools and industry

On the 19 June, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding met with European Industry Associations, European Business Schools and Senior Executive Women to discuss progress being made on improving the gender balance in company boardrooms.

The National Council of Women supports the Act to provide protection for human embryos

NCW has always advocated for legislation of alternative IVF treatment not least because of the sensitivity and the consequences for both parents and society if it had to remain unregulated. NCW believes that IVF treatment should be for heterosexuals within a stable family environment The Council has always supported the protection of embryos as the first cell of a human life and, with the development of alternative treatment over the past years this has become possible successfully.

WOMEN: Campaign to get more women into scientific careers

Brussels, 22/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Science is also a “girl thing”. That is the message the Commission intends to drive home throughout the EU over the next three years to get more girls interested in science and encourage more women to choose research as a career.

Women on Boards: Vice-President Viviane Reding meets with leaders of Europe's business schools and i

Today, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding met with European Industry Associations, European Business Schools and Senior Executive Women to discuss progress being made on improving the gender balance in company boardrooms.

UfM adopts new project to support women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean

A project aimed at developing women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean through the development of effective field projects and the setting up of networks and platforms, was adopted by Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) at a meeting held last month.

Date: 20/06/2012

Women on Boards: Vice-President Viviane Reding meets with leaders of Europe's business schools and industry

Despite around 60% of university graduates being female, women still represent only 14% of board members in Europe's biggest listed companies and only 3% of board presidents. Business schools play a crucial role in equipping young women for a career in business and helping them to reach the top. They are helping women to prepare for professional careers through seminars, training programmes and providing networking opportunities.

"I do not accept the argument that there aren't enough qualified women to fill supervisory boards - you just need to look at the list of 7 000 'board ready' women that European Business schools published a few months ago to see that there are," said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner. "The pool of talent is there – companies should now make use of it."

In September 2011, the European Business Schools and Senior Executive Women launched a call to action to shatter the glass ceilings which impede senior women executives from acceding to corporate boardroom seats throughout Europe. Their ever growing list of "Board Ready Women" – up to 7 000 today from 3 500 in March 2012 – makes it clear that there are more than enough eminently qualified women to help lead Europe’s and the world’s corporations into the 21st century and that it is now time to shatter the ceiling that has kept these women from ascending to these board of directors positions.

Why gender-balanced boards?

In these difficult economic times – when we are facing the challenges of an ageing population and skills shortages, in addition to the financial crisis – it is more important than ever to take advantage of everyone's skills: both female and male.

There are four main reasons for breaking the glass ceiling on company boards:

The economic imperative: Getting more women into the labour market is an important factor in improving Europe's competitiveness. Having more women in the workforce will also help achieve the EU's goal of raising the employment rate for adults to 75%

The business case: a growing number of studies show a link between more women in senior positions and companies’ financial performance

: a growing number of studies show a link between more women in senior positions and companies’ financial performance

The need for a level playing field: several EU Member States have started to act and have introduced legally binding quotas for company boards. These varying quota rules are new, and they can be a challenge for businesses operating in several EU countries.

: several EU Member States have started to act and have introduced legally binding quotas for company boards. These varying quota rules are new, and they can be a challenge for businesses operating in several EU countries. Public demand: Europeans strongly support better gender balance. In a recent : Getting more women into the labour market is an important factor in improving . Having more women in the workforce will also help achieve the EU's goal of raising the employment rate for adults to 75% : a growing number of studies show a link between more women in senior positions and companies’ financial performance : several EU Member States have started to act and have introduced legally binding quotas for company boards. These varying quota rules are new, and they can be a challenge for businesses operating in several EU countries. : Europeans strongly support better gender balance. In a recent Europe-wide opinion poll, 88% of people said that, given the same qualifications and skills, women should be equally represented in top business jobs and 75% said they were in favour of legislative measures to enforce this.

Background

On 1 March 2011, EU Justice Commissioner Reding met chief executives and chairs of boards of publicly listed companies to discuss the under-representation of women on corporate boards. She challenged all publicly listed companies in Europe to sign up to the ": Getting more women into the labour market is an important factor in improving . Having more women in the workforce will also help achieve the EU's goal of raising the employment rate for adults to 75% : a growing number of studies show a link between more women in senior positions and companies’ financial performance : several EU Member States have started to act and have introduced legally binding quotas for company boards. These varying quota rules are new, and they can be a challenge for businesses operating in several EU countries. : Europeans strongly support better gender balance. In a recent Women on the Board Pledge for Europe" and commit voluntarily to increasing women's participation on corporate boards to 30% by 2015 and to 40% by 2020 (see &&&&IP/11/242 and MEMO/11/124). A year later, only 24 companies had signed the pledge, prompting the European Commission to launch a three month long public consultation that closed at the end of May, seeking the opinion of citizens and stakeholders (&&&&IP/12/213). The number of responses received shows the great interest in this matter: the Commission received responses from almost 500 individuals, companies, organisations and governments from all over Europe.

The Commission is now analysing the responses and preparing an economic analysis. The Commission's Legislative Work Programme for 2012 announces a legislative initiative on improving the gender balance in companies listed on stock exchanges.

For more information

European Commission – Gender balance in decision-making positions:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/gender-decision-making/index_en.htm

Justice Directorate General Newsroom:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/index_en.htm

Homepage of Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner:

http://ec.europa.eu/reding

Contacts :

Mina Andreeva ( 32 2 299 13 82)

Natasha Bertaud ( 32 2 296 74 56)

ANNEX:

Members of the European Business School / Women On Boards Initiative

Business Schools

Bocconi

Boston University Management Institute Europe

Cambridge Judge Business School

EDHEC Business School

EFMD – European Federation of Management Development

ESMT

HR College of Commerce and Economics

IAUW – International Association of University Women

IESE

IFPM Female Board Pool at the University of St.Gallen

IMD

INSEAD

Kellogg School of Management

London Business School

Oxford

RSM

University of Mumbai

Professional Organizations

American Chamber of Commerce France and Spain

Bellisario Foundation

BoardEx

Business and Industry Advisory Council

IFA Institut Francais des Administrateurs

Deutscher Juristinnenbund e.V.

EPWN (European Professional Women’s Network)

Forte Foundation – Major Corporations and Business Schools

The Financial Times Non-Executive Directors' Club

TIAW - The International Alliance for Women

GTWN - The Global Telecom Women’s Network

WiTT - Women in Telecoms and Technology

WCD - Women Corporate Directors

Women’s Forum of New York

Corporate Women

Lady Barbara Judge

Bridget Cosgrave

Lori Gonnu

Cristina Vicini

Lesley Stephenson

Brigitte Boone

Audrey Mandela

Indu Shahani

Susan Ness

Candace Johnson

European Commission Representation in Malta
Tel: 356 234 25 000
Fax: 356 21 344 897
email: comm-rep-mt@ec.europa.eu

Website: http://www.ec.europa.eu/malta

Tel: 356 234 25 000Fax: 356 21 344 897email:

Back to Archive

Disclaimer

Sitemap

Home

Developed by Alert Communications