Gender equality in financial decision-making

The European Parliament has called for more women in governing positions in the central banks and financial institutions in Member States, while also noting its concern about the absence of women on the ECB's executive board (resolution on women and business leadership 2011). In its Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019 the European Commission has reconfirmed the commitment it made, in the 2012 proposal for a directive, for women to represent at least 40 % of non-executive directors of publicly listed companies. The Commission will also continue to support Member States in the collection and dissemination of data on the representation of women and men in high decision-making positions, in close cooperation with EIGE. The Council of the European Union has recognised the importance of the equal participation of women and men at all levels and fields of decision- making and has included it as a priority area in the gender equality pact 2011-2020. The Council's conclusions on equality between women and men in the field of decision-making calls upon Member States and the Commission to improve data collection and analysis, as well as to adopt targeted measures to improve the gender balance in decision- making bodies. The conclusions were based on EIGE's report on gender equality in power and decision-making, prepared for the Luxembourg Presidency.