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QUOTAS

No equality quotas for boards: Olofsson

Center Party leader and Industry Minister Maud Olofsson has washed her government’s hands of the responsibility for ensuring equal representation of women and men on the boards of listed companies, according to a report in the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.

Published: 2 September 2009 12:24 CEST

Olofsson also rejected the idea of quotas to force companies to appoint more women to top management positions.

Of the top 150 Swedish listed companies, 18 have no women directors on their boards, according to the report. This figure has increased, from 12 companies last year and 15 in 2007, that failed to have women in executive management positions.

Olofsson considers that the composition of management is the responsibility of company owners.

“I think that company owners ought to think about how their company performs and to put that question to the company. I suggest that many of these companies still have both men and women that buy their products and services,” Olofsson told the newspaper.

In March, Olofsson and Equal Opportunity Minister Nyamko Sabuni from the Liberal Party (Folkpartiet), sent a letter to 342 company boards to discover what they had done to ensure more equal representation of women and men on their boards. Only 77 companies have so far responded to the letter.

Social Democrat opposition leader Mona Sahlin called in August for a regulatory change obliging listed companies to ensure that women make up at least 40 percent of their boards.

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EUROPE

Europe has done its duty for refugees: Hollande

Europe has shouldered responsibility for the wave of refugees reaching its shores, French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday after EU ministers agreed to relocate 120,000 refugees around the bloc.

Published: 23 September 2015 08:18 CEST
Europe has done its duty for refugees: Hollande
Hollande applauds Europe for taking on its responsibility for the refugee crisis. Photo: AFP

“Europe has taken on its responsibilities. It has been able to do this but with conditions and with rules, and that is what France has called for,” Hollande told reporters.

Europe has been struggling to coordinate a united response to an unprecedented influx of migrants and refugees from war-torn countries such as Syria.

“Couldn't we manage 120,000 in a continent with 450 million people? We will show that we can do this, and at the same time have rules. That is taking responsibility, that is solidarity,” Hollande added.

The plan was bitterly opposed by the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, who argue that the European Commission does not have the right to make them take in people seeking refuge.

Asked about the possibility of sanctions for countries which did not respect Tuesday's agreement, Hollande said Europe had “rules”.

“When you are in the European Union, it comes not just with benefits, it also means playing your part, especially when it comes to accommodating people who are in an extremely difficult situation,” he said.

The agreement came on the eve of a key EU summit on Wednesday which is dedicated to finding ways to help countries to stop the flow of asylum seekers at sources.

Hollande's remarks came as the first refugees from war-torn Syria arrived in Britain, which is exempt from EU asylum and migration policy.

Hollande defended Britain's opposition to being part of a quota system, noting that it was “not in the Schengen area” of passport-free movement.

“But the United Kingdom will play its part as well in the reception of refugees, in particular in so-called resettlement,” Hollande said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has agreed to accept 20,000 refugees by 2020, from camps in countries bordering Syria such as Turkey and Jordan.

Hollande is on a diplomatic visit to Britain, and spoke before meeting Cameron at Chequers, his official country residence where the two will hold talks and a working dinner.

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