The 16% share [of female speakers at the European Business Summit] is in line with the number of women serving on corporate boards in the EU, a figure women’s advocates say shows that corporations are out of touch with society and need legislative pressure to diversity…“Gender equality at work is not a women’s issue, but a business and economic imperative,” [Commission Vice President Viviane Reding] said...[E]fforts to boost gender diversity through EU legislation have typically hit opposition, from businesses as well as national leaders…But [Sharon Bowles, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]...said [BusinessEurope, an influential business group] appeared to be making an effort to get women on panels, while [Serap Altinisik] of the European Women’s Lobby credited BusinessEurope for naming a woman to its top spot. “I think it shows they can’t ignore all the facts and the evidence that diversity brings advantages to their own businesses,” Altinisik said, “and it shows there is a need to shift the policies.” [Refers to Accenture]