European lawmakers approved a plan allowing pregnant MEPs and new mothers to delegate plenary votes, aiming to reduce barriers to political engagement.
The proposed changes cleared the European Parliament with 578 votes in favor, 25 against, and 4 abstentions. The framework allows members to arrange for another representative to vote on their behalf three months before an expected birth and six months after childbirth.
- Transparent Delegation: Both the transferring member and the proxy are recorded in official minutes, maintaining strict accountability during the transition period.
The delegation of voting rights remains strictly voluntary and can be withdrawn by the Member of European Parliament at any time. Safeguards built into the framework ensure that both the MEP transferring the vote and the member exercising it are explicitly identified in the minutes of the relevant sitting and in published voting records. Proxy votes count directly toward calculating quorums, voting thresholds, and majorities.
Any disagreement by the member who delegated their vote does not alter the outcome once cast, though corrections remain possible under standard procedures. To preserve institutional integrity, the rules restrict each MEP from exercising more than one delegated vote simultaneously. Roberta Metsola launched the initiative in 2025 as part of broader efforts to modernize working arrangements and promote gender equality.
| Voting Metric | Outcome / Status |
|---|---|
| Votes For | 578 |
| Votes Against | 25 |
| Abstentions | 4 |
Lara Wolters, rapporteur for the Legal Affairs Committee, emphasized the scope of the reform. “Today’s vote is a step towards a more fair and representative parliament, giving women the options they need in modern life,” said Lara Wolters (S&D, NL) told europarl.europa.eu.
“We want to represent those who elected us, but we also want to be there for our newborns. I am proud of today’s vote, but I wish we could be doing the same for young fathers, or for MEPs adopting children. That is a fight we’ll need to continue waging.”
The Council adopted the required amendments to the European Electoral Act in May 2026, establishing the legal basis for the proxy system. Under article 223(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the European Commission must deliver its opinion and the Council must give its formal consent before Parliament holds a final vote.
The new provisions will take effect once all EU Member States ratify the amended European Electoral Act, with progress tracked on the Council’s dedicated webpage.
- European Parliament. Proposed changes to allow proxy voting before and after childbirth. europarl.europa.eu.
- Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Article 223(2). EUR-Lex.
- Council of the European Union. Amendments to the European Electoral Act.
