Many European countries succeeded in actually increasing the numbers of women in leading positions by introducing Gender Equality laws including gender quota regulations. But there are many different kinds of quotas with different binding character and effectiveness: quotas regulations are only efficient if appropriate sanctions hinder people from omitting the laws. Opponents of the idea of gender quotas doubt the effectiveness and fairness of them, whereas supporters hope that with the help of quotas, barriers and prejudices against women could be removed in the long-term.
The European economic and social committee provides a list of measures carried out different European countries, such as introducing gender equality laws and quotas.
Norway
It was one of the first countries to introduce gender quotas. Their law (2006), required market-listed companies to fill 40% of seats in their supervisory boards with women. In 2015 the percentage of women in boards of companies was 38,7%.
Spain
State-controlled and market-listed companies or companies with more than 250 employees were required to increase the percentage of women in their executive broads up to 40% until 2015. Companies are motivated by the promised to be preferably given contracts if they accomplished the gender quotes. The percentage of women in broads of companies in Spain raised from 10,6% in 2011 to 18,8% in 2015.
Italy
In 2011 law demands at least one third of both genders to be represented in executive boards of state-controlled and market-listed companies. Companies are threatened by financial sanctions if not obeying the law. As a consequence, the percentage of women in boards of companies raised from 4,2% in 2011 to 24,6% in 2015.
France
On 2011 came into force a law in order to increase gender quality in French economics. Companies which are market-listed or have more than 500 employees are demanded to increase the percentage of women in supervisory and administrative board to 20% until 2014, and to 40% until 2017. The percentage of women participation in boards companies in France increased from 18,2% to 34,4% in 2015.
Belgium
A law in 2011 required at least one-third of the member of executive committees in state-controlled or market-listed companies to be women. Non-compliance results in financial punishment or positions being left vacant. Accordingly, the percentage of women in boards in Belgium rose from 10,8% in 2011 to 27% in 2015.
Netherlands
A law was adopted in 2011 requiring market-listed companies or companies with more than 250 employees to fill their executive boards with at least 30% of each sex, otherwise they will be sanctioned. Therefore, the percentage of women in boards of Dutch companies increased from 16,2% in 2011 to 24,4% in 2015.
Germany
On 2015 a law was passed that requires market-listed companies to fill their seats in steering boards at least to 30% with women, otherwise positions must stay vacant. Furthermore, around 3.500 smaller companies have to set themselves goals in order to increase the amount of women in their directorates and boardrooms. What is more, the German government has plans to increase the quota to 50% and introduce quota regulations in order to increase the number of men working in kindergarten, primary schools, etc.