The European Union executive is reviving plans for mandatory quotas of women on company boards, amid slowing progress towards gender equality among top management...

Under a 2012 draft directive, European-listed companies would face fines if they failed to ensure that at least 40% of their non-executive board seats were taken by women...

The commission announced on Thursday that it was dusting down the 2012 draft law, as it launched a five-year gender equality strategy. The wide-ranging plan proposes to harmonise European law on violence against women, as well as measures to combat sexual harassment and female genital mutilation.

The commission argues that gender parity is most worrying in the sphere of power, with women underrepresented in politics and business...

At the end of the year, Brussels will also propose legislation on salary transparency, a promise from the European commission president...