What changed

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2025)0257

on the draft Council decision amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 20 September 1976

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

(06708/2026 – C10-0078/2026 – 2025/0900(APP))

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

(Special legislative procedure – consent)

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))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Council decision (06708/2026),

– 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 the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 223(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to Article 106a(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (C10-0078/2026),Community,

– having regard to its legislative resolutionthe ofAct 13concerning Novemberthe 2025election onof the amendmentmembers of the European ElectoralParliament act,by allowingdirect Membersuniversal suffrage (“the Electoral Act”), annexed to voteCouncil indecision plenary76/787/ECSC, byEEC, proxyEuratom votingof during20 pregnancySeptember 1976, as amended, and afterin givingparticular birth,Article 6 thereof,

– having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

– 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 the recommendation of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A10-0123/2026),

– 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 proposal for a Council Regulation on the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, repealing Council Decision (76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom) and the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage annexed to that Decision,

1. Gives its consent to the draft Council 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,

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and in particular Article 33 thereof,

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

– having regard to Rules 46 and 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

Parliament adopted on 13 November 2025 a proposal for a reform of the European Electoral Act to permit Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are pregnant or who have recently given birth to cast their votes in plenary sessions by proxy voting. Under the proposed targeted revision, a MEP who is pregnant or who has recently given birth would be able to delegate their plenary voting rights to another MEP for a maximum duration of three months before the estimated date of birth and a maximum duration of six months after the birth. The revision is designed to accommodate the unique health, physical, and logistical challenges faced by those Members, thereby enabling them to fully participate in the legislative process without being compelled to attend plenary sessions in person. This legislative initiative reflects Parliament’s long-standing commitment to promote inclusivity, gender equality and family-friendly working conditions.

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A10-0214/2025),

As provided for in the special legislative procedure laid down in Article 223(1) TFEU, once Parliament has adopted its legislative initiative on proxy voting, this proposal is transmitted to the Council. The Council must adopt unanimously its position on the proposal and then it must request the consent from Parliament. After obtaining the Parliament’s consent, the Council shall finally adopt the decision amending the European Electoral Act. The reform shall enter into force following its approval by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

A. whereas the European Parliament has the right to initiate the reform of its own electoral procedure, and to give its consent thereto;

The Council held intensive debates during several months on several issues, namely the personal scope of application of the proposed decision, but also the practical implementation of proxy voting, such as the duration, the criteria for ensuring eligibility, accessibility, and verifiability of such delegation of voting rights.

B. whereas the possibility of developing a uniform electoral procedure based on direct universal suffrage has been enshrined in the Treaties since 1957;

The Council has adopted its position on proxy voting on 17 March 2026 and transmitted it to Parliament for its consent. Following its internal debates, the Council has added to the Parliament’s initial proposal two elements. First, the statute for MEPs should lay down the general conditions governing such delegation of vote, ensuring compliance with the principles of transparency, accountability, traceability, legal certainty and integrity of the vote. Council also added that Parliament’s Rules of Procedure should lay down detailed arrangements for this delegation of vote.

C. whereas the reform of the European Parliament's electoral procedure should aim to enhance the democratic dimension of European elections, improve the functioning of the European Parliament and the governance of the Union, make the work of the European Parliament more legitimate and efficient, and provide for greater electoral equality for citizens of the Union;

While reiterating the need for a rapid adoption of this important reform of the European Electoral Law, the Rapporteur suggests Parliament to accept these additions from Council and to proceed immediately to give its consent to the Council’s position. This would allow for the swift adoption by the Council of its final decision on the amendment of the European Electoral Law and for the launching of the last step foreseen in Article 223(1) TFEU (i.e. approval by Member States) without further delay, allowing for the entry into force of this reform as soon as possible.

D. whereas work-life balance policies should contribute to the achievement of gender equality by promoting the participation of mothers in politics;

E. whereas the reform of the electoral procedure must respect the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

1. Decides to strengthen maternity rules for Members of the European Parliament who wish to continue to carry out their parliamentary duties;

2. Proposes a targeted revision of the European Electoral Act enabling Members to delegate their plenary vote to another Member of their choice during pregnancy and after giving birth;

3. Believes that this reform will allow Members, in the periods immediately before and after becoming mothers, to fully exercise their mandates, improving institutional fairness and inclusion in the European Parliament;

4. Adopts the proposal annexed hereto and submits it to the Council;

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 LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

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 COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 223(1) thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Parliament,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1) Work-life balance policies should contribute to the achievement of gender equality by promoting the participation of mothers in politics.

(2) The introduction of a system of proxy voting in plenary sessions will allow Members, in the periods immediately before and after becoming mothers, to fully exercise their mandates.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION

Article 1

In Article 6(1) of the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom, the following subparagraph is added:

“By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, a Member who is pregnant or who has given birth may have her vote cast by another Member acting as 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.”

Article 2

1. This Decision shall be subject to the approval by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. Member States shall notify the General Secretariat of the Council of the completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose.

2. This Decision shall enter into force on the first day after the day on which the last notification referred to in paragraph 1 has been received.

Article 3

This decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President