The new rules aim to have at least 40 percent of non-executive director posts, or one-third of all director posts on publicly-listed firms filled by women by July 2026.
And priority to the under-represented gender needs to be given in cases where two candidates are equally qualified, the new rules say.
Companies with fewer than 250 employees will be exempt from the regulations.
The rules require EU countries to impose "effective" penalties for companies that do not reach the targets, including fines, or being publicly named and shamed.