EU 'ready to legislate' to increase number of women in boardrooms

The EU has said it is ready to legislate to get more women into boardrooms.

New OECD figures published today showed that in 2009, women occupied only one in 10 board seats in companies listed in OECD countries, which include Europe's top economies.

At current levels, the Commission estimates it would take more than 40 years to get at least 40% of both sexes onto boardrooms.

The EU Justice Commission Viviane Reding said self regulation had not brought about satisfactory results and she is now considering EU legislative measures.