What changed

PR_INL_Election

P10_TA(2025)0257

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

Proxy voting in plenary for Members during pregnancy and after giving birth

on the amendment of the European Electoral act, allowing Members to vote in plenary by proxy voting during pregnancy and after giving birth

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

(2025/2195(INL) – 2025/0900(APP))

PE778.275

European Parliament legislative resolution of 13 November 2025 on the amendment of the European Electoral act, allowing Members to vote in plenary by proxy voting during pregnancy and after giving birth (2025/2195(INL) – 2025/0900(APP))

– having regard to the Treaties, and in particular Articles 9, 10, 14 and 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Articles 20, 22, 223(1) and 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and Article 2 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national parliaments in the European Union,

– having regard to Article 5 of the Decision of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the European Parliament’s electoral procedure, and in particular its resolution of 15 July 1998 on a draft electoral procedure incorporating common principles for the election of Members of the European Parliament, its resolution of 22 November 2012 on the elections to the European Parliament in 2014, its resolution of 4 July 2013 on improving the practical arrangements for the holding of the European elections in 2014, its resolution of 11 November 2015 on the Reform of the electoral law of the EU and its resolution of 3 May 2022 on the Reformproposal for a Council Regulation on the election of the electoralmembers lawof the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, repealing Council Decision (76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom) and the Act concerning the election of the EU,members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage annexed to that Decision,

– having regard to the Framework Agreement of 20 October 2010 on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission, as modified on 17 February 2018,

5. Instructs its President to forward this legislative resolution and the proposal annexed hereto to the European Council, the Council, and the Commission, and to the parliaments and governments of the Member States.

ANNEX TO THE MOTION FOR A LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION

adopting the provisions amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

The President

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This report contains the proposed amendment to the European Electoral Act to permit Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to cast their votes in plenary sessions by proxy for a maximum period of three months before the estimated date of birth of the child and for a maximum period of six months after the birth.

The European Electoral Act needs to be amended because Article 6(1) provides that: “Members of the European Parliament shall vote on an individual and personal basis. They shall not be bound by any instructions and shall not receive a binding mandate”. Therefore, voting on behalf of a fellow Member would violate this provision, even if the aim pursued is legitimate.

The rationale behind the principle of individual and personal vote is that Members of the European Parliament represent directly the Union’s citizens, and that an election by the citizens creates a unique, individual and personal link between the Member and the institution. Hence, in order to introduce a system of voting by substitution in plenary sessions during a Member’s absence due to maternity leave, the legal instruments defining a Member’s vote as a strictly individual and personal vote need to be amended.

Such amendment is designed to accommodate the unique health, physical, and logistical challenges faced by Members who are pregnant or who have recently given birth, thereby enabling them to fully participate in the legislative process without being compelled to attend plenary sessions in person.

Currently, the requirement for in-person voting can pose significant difficulties for Members who are pregnant or who have recently given birth, including increased health risks, mobility limitations, and challenges related to childcare responsibilities. This amendment recognizes these challenges and introduces proxy voting as a practical solution that balances the need for active political engagement with the well-being of Members during these critical life stages.

By formalizing proxy voting, the European Parliament demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity, gender equality, and family-friendly working conditions. It aligns the institution with modern labour standards, best practices and workplace accommodations, thus fostering an environment where all elected representatives can contribute effectively without sacrificing their personal health or family commitments.

Moreover, this amendment promotes the retention and empowerment of women within the European political sphere, addressing barriers that affect female Members. It supports the European Parliament’s broader objectives of diversity and equal opportunity, ensuring that motherhood does not impede parliamentary participation or diminish the democratic representation of citizens.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

4.11.2025

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

26

4

0

Members present for the final vote

Gerolf Annemans, François-Xavier Bellamy, Vasile Dîncu, Nikolas Farantouris, Daniel Freund, Charles Goerens, Sandro Gozi, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Thijs Reuten, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, Anthony Smith, Stanisław Tyszka, Reinier Van Lanschot, Alexandre Varaut, Loránt Vincze, Charlie Weimers

Substitutes present for the final vote

Marc Angel, Tom Berendsen, Tobiasz Bocheński, Helmut Brandstätter, Marieke Ehlers, Borja Giménez Larraz, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Idoia Mendia, Ana Miguel Pedro, Gheorghe Piperea, Alessandro Zan

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Michalis Hadjipantela, Fernando Navarrete Rojas

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE ON THE DRAFT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL

Key to symbols:

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE ON THE DRAFT MOTION FOR RESOLUTION

Key to symbols: