Gender equality

Women must comprise 40% of public company boards by 2026

European Parliament has approved the Women on Boards directive 10 years after it was first proposed

Frances Fitzgerald, MEP for Dublin, said the directive will be formally approved by the European Parliament and European Council

A legally binding 40 per cent gender quota for corporate boards has been described as “exciting” by Frances Fitzgerald, Dublin’s MEP said.

After being blocked in the European Council for a decade, the Women on Boards directive has been agreed by European Parliament and member state negotiators. Under the directive, listed companies operating in the European Union could face fines or have appointments annulled if the quotas are not met.

At least 40 per cent ...