Jose Manuel Barroso says that he used blackmail to persuade member counties to nominate female candidates as commissioners.
It happened during his time as the president of the European Commission.
The confession was made during his presentation to a predominately female audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"I needed women," he said. A third of commissioners must be female. It is in the president’s remit to choose which portfolio is assigned.
Mr Barroso explained that he told prime ministers that their country would be given less important commissioner roles – unless they put forward a woman.
If a country proposed a man, then instead of offering them the position of financial markets, competition, energy, or economic affairs, he would offer them a less important position, such as sport.
He used this tactic on many, including Gordon Brown who proposed Baroness Ashton who took on the role of trade commissioner.
"I told Gordon Brown I need a woman because I will not make my quota," he said, before stressing that Ms Ashton was a very talented candidate and did not get the job just for her gender credentials.
Mr Barroso was among a panel of speakers discussing a report looking at the lack of women in the parliaments around the world. On average, the report says, just one in five political representatives is female.
