Large publicly listed companies operating in the EU will have to take measures to increase women’s presence at board level by July 2026 after the EU Parliament approved new gender equality regulations.

The adoption of the so-called “Women on Boards” Directive on 22 November comes ten years after the proposal was first made. It aims to introduce transparent recruitment procedures in companies, so that at least 40% of non-executive director posts or 33% of all director posts are occupied by the under-represented sex by the end of June 2026.