Brussels, 06/01/2025 (Agence Europe) – The Directive on gender balance among Directors of listed companies (‘Women on Boards’) came into force at the end of 2024, announced the European Commission on Friday 3 January. The text aims to increase the representation of women on the Boards of listed companies in all EU Member States. By June 2026, large companies must have 40% of their non-executive Directors and 33% of all Directors who are women. In addition, the Directive imposes transparent and gender-neutral selection criteria as well as obligations to disclose the qualifications of unsuccessful candidates. The interinstitutional political agreement was reached in June 2022 (see EUROPE 13068/15), after 10 years of discussions, and the Member States had until 28 December 2024 to transpose these rules into their legislation. (NP)