She addressed a conference presenting the results of Eqpowerec, a study on gender equality in business.

The minister said that all conditions for a gradual equal representation of both genders at the decision-making level had been provided at the institutional level, but she warned that this was not enough due to many stereotypes.

"Those who abandon stereotypes and are able to utilise all available resources will win the global game." It is very important in a time of crisis that a company is led by the best trained personnel, which can be found both among men and women, she said.

Kopač Mrak noted that her ministry was drafting a law on measures for a balanced representation of men and women in decision-making bodies. The ministry does not want a "law for its own sake", but a wide social consensus on measures, as this is the only way to get good results, she added.

The conference was also addressed by Rado Bohinc, the dean of the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences. He said that Europe was still divided when it comes to measures to reduce the difference in the share of men and women in leading positions.

According to him, Slovenia is faced with the dilemma of whether to leave decisions on gender equality to individual companies or take legislative measures and determine quotas.

Discussing the idea on quotas, opposition New Slovenia (NSi) president Ljudmila Novak said that in the private sector, best personnel was being put in leading positions regardless of gender, pointing to family companies as an example.

Unaffiliated MP and former prime minister Alenka Bratušek meanwhile expressed hope that relevant legislation would soon be on the table in parliament. She stressed that her party, the non-parliamentary Alliance of Social-Liberal Democrats, had equal representation of genders in business set as a priority in its manifesto.

Bratušek added that women should be more aware that they were just as capable as men and that they should not take all the responsibility related to family life.

Parliamentary Speaker Milan Brglez is happy that Slovenia has managed to maintain a relatively high degree of gender equality.

Slovenia has already introduced quotas for women in politics, and the next logical step would be introducing quotas in business, he added.