Proxy Voting for Pregnant and New‑Parent MEPs

Key Decision on Voting Rules

The European Parliament has approved a change to the rules governing how Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) vote during main plenary sessions.

• The Change: MEPs who are pregnant or who have recently given birth will now be allowed to vote by proxy.
• What is Proxy Voting? This means the MEP can authorize another MEP to vote on their behalf during the plenary session.
• Purpose: The change aims to ensure that these MEPs can fully participate in parliamentary work without needing to be physically present for every vote.

Parliament's Actions

The Parliament took the following steps regarding this decision:

• It gave its formal consent to the draft decision from the Council.
• It instructed its President to send its position on the decision to three groups:
  • The Council
  • The European Commission
  • The national parliaments of EU member states

Background Details

• Legal Impact: This decision amends the European Electoral Act, which is the law that governs how MEPs are elected.
• Goal: The change is part of a broader effort to modernize and improve the functioning of the Parliament.
• Official Record: The full decision is published in the Official Journal of the EU (C/2026/1667, 22 April 2026).

Broader context

The European Electoral Act is the foundational law that sets the rules for European Parliament elections across all EU member states. Changes to it are rare and require agreement from both the Parliament and the Council of the EU (representing national governments), which is why this amendment went through a formal consent procedure rather than a simple vote.

The idea of proxy voting — letting someone vote on your behalf — already exists in several national parliaments. France, for example, has long allowed it. The European Parliament, however, has traditionally required physical presence for plenary votes, making it harder for MEPs dealing with pregnancy, childbirth, or health issues to fully participate.

This change is part of a wider push within the EU to make the Parliament more family-friendly and inclusive, recognising that requiring physical presence for every vote can discourage parents — particularly mothers — from standing for election or remaining active once elected.

Impact on people living in the EU

For everyday EU citizens, the practical impact is indirect but meaningful:

In short, citizens can have greater confidence that the MEP they voted for will be able to cast votes on their behalf during major life events, rather than being absent from crucial decisions.