Summary of story from Daily Express, 7.2.11.

British firms could be forced by Brussels to have at least 40 percent of their boards made up of women, it has emerged.

The European Commission, an executive body of the European Union, is said to be drawing up plans for a voluntary code for publicly-listed companies.

But it’s threatening to impose compulsory quotas if companies fail to sign up by the end of the year.

Just 12.5 percent of board positions in the leading FTSE 100 companies are believed to be held by women.

Katja Hall, of the CBI, said the idea of quotas can cause alarm among business groups.

“European-imposed quotas are not the answer,” said Hall, from the UK’s top business lobbying organisation.  ”They could actually undermine efforts to get more women into the very top business roles.”

“What is needed is cultural change, not quotas, ratios or tokenism.”