Gender quotas were not approved at EPSCO

There was no consensus in the council, the member states have followed their domestic political constellation.

The ambition of the Luxembourg presidency to The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) that was held on Monday 7th December 2015 has been to reach, in the legislative part, a common approach to the proposal of the directive on gender equality on company boards of the companies listed on stock markets.

The member countries could not find a common position, they have been changing it, leaving the blocking minority, entering it and have demanded an expiry review to gain time. The unwillingness of the member countries had its real context, nevertheless. It was disclosed that governments in many countries had adopted measures at the national level to get more women in the management and supervisory boards and into leading positions in general but the measures had not a visible impact on the actual situation.

Next development will depend on the Netherlands and Slovakia and their EU presidency.

The Czech Republic has left the blocking minority most recently and decided to support the gender quotas despite the employers‘ objections. On the other hand, it has taken a positive stance to a renewed approach to flexicurity while respecting the traditions and needs of each member country.

The average women‘s representation on the boards of large companies is 21 percent in the EU and 12 in the Czech Republic and 7 as to the board presidents in the EU and 0 in the Czech Republic. No women board presidents of the large companies are also in Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands and Portugal.

Position paper of the EPSCO

Women's representation on the boards of large companies