The issue of women in the boardroom has gained impetus in recent weeks. The European Commission consultation paper on corporate governance...has a strong focus on boardroom diversity. It was reinforced last month by a call from the European Parliament for EU-wide legislation to ensure women make up 40 per cent of listed company boards by 2020...UK government ministers put pressure on FTSE 350 companies to meet the Davies review recommendations to announce targets to increase the number of women on their boards by next month’s deadline. Norway led the way on quotas in 2003 by legislating for companies to reserve 40 per cent of board seats for women by 2008. Spain followed suit in 2007, and France this year. Brussels is keen to ensure other EU member states adopt similar policies. The Netherlands and Germany are currently debating the issue...While change is happening in Europe, the US has no plans to impose women director quotas. A decade ago, the US made progress in getting women into the boardroom with a 10-15 per cent representation, depending on the sector, says Matteo Tonello, director of governance research at the Conference Board in New York. “Since then, the level has plateaued. Companies have had one woman on the board for the last 10 years and nothing has changed.”