Belgian Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders (Flemish socialist) says Belgium has no choice but to introduce gender quotas for executive committees of large, listed companies. If Belgium fails to do so, we will face sanctions from the European Union. Mr Beenders is surprised by criticism of his proposals from the federal coalition partners Flemish Christian democrat CD&V and nationalist N-VA and Francophone liberal MR.
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Minister Beenders rejects criticism of gender quotas for company executives
Colin Clapson
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In his policy statement, Mr Beenders announced that he wants to introduce gender quotas for the executive committees of large, listed companies. In addition, the existing quotas for boards of directors would become even stricter. Mr Beenders says he wants to strengthen gender balance in decision-making positions.
According to the minister, Belgium is obliged to implement such measures. ‘This is not an idea I'm floating. It is a European directive and as a member state we are obliged to translate this European directive into Belgian law. If we don't, the EU can start infringement proceedings,’ he says.
Beenders: at European level MR and CD&V supported the idea
Coalition partners CD&V, MR and N-VA were quick to sound their opposition to Mr Beenders’s proposals yesterday. They are against the quota. ‘This proposal has very clearly been rejected during the coalition talks. Everyone should respect that,’ MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez responded on X.
Mr Beenders points out that Hadja Lahbib, a party colleague of Mr Bouchez, is the European commissioner responsible for the directive. ‘I would recommend having a word with his European commissioner’. According to Mr Beenders, CD&V was also in favour of quotas at the European level.
‘I would also prefer that we didn't need quotas. My point is that I want more diversity, gender equality and equal opportunity,’ Mr Beenders noted. The minister will present his policy statement in parliament this week. ‘I hope we can have a constructive debate in coming days and weeks,’ he concluded.