Cyprus parliamentary committee discusses gender balance in listed companies

On September 22, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Trade, Industry, and Tourism of Cyprus met to discuss the harmonization of national legislation with European Union directives regarding gender balance in management positions of listed companies.

Irini Charalambidou, a Member of Parliament representing the Alma movement, noted that the proposed harmonization bill is limited exclusively to companies listed on the stock exchange. She expressed significant concern that the scope of this legislation excludes major public organizations such as CYTA (Cyprus Telecommunications Authority) and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC). Charalambidou emphasized that the broader issue of gender representation remains a critical problem in Cyprus, pointing to the current low numbers of women in high-level political roles, including only one female minister and ten female members of parliament.

Charalambidou advocated for a more comprehensive approach to address gender inequality across all sectors of society. She further commented on the necessity of broader male participation in these discussions, noting that debates on gender issues in the Human Rights Committee have historically been dominated by female participants.