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DRAFT REPORT (2026/2052(INL) – 2026/0900 (APP))

On a draft regulation of the European Parliament amending Decision 2005/684/EC, Euratom adopting the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, as regards proxy voting

JURI-PR-790240

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Lara Wolters

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is a draft report by the Committee on Legal Affairs on a draft regulation amending the Statute for Members of the European Parliament as regards proxy voting. It proposes that a Member who is pregnant or has given birth may have her vote cast by another Member acting as proxy, for a maximum of three months before the estimated date of birth and six months after giving birth. The delegation would apply only in plenary sessions, be voluntary and revokable, and no Member could hold more than one delegation at a time. The identities of the delegating Member and the proxy would be recorded in the minutes, and votes cast by proxy would count towards quorums, thresholds and majorities. The report calls on Member States to approve the amendment of the European Electoral Act so that proxy voting can be established as soon as possible.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament adopt the draft regulation amending the Statute for Members to allow proxy voting for pregnant Members and Members who have given birth, and calls on Member States to approve the amendment of the European Electoral Act.

Key points

  1. Parliament takes the view that proxy voting three months before the estimated date of birth and six months after giving birth strengthens democratic representation.
  2. It believes the reform will enhance gender equality and inclusion and improve gender balance in Parliament.
  3. It proposes a targeted revision of the Statute for Members letting Members delegate their plenary vote to another Member of their choice.
  4. It calls on Member States to approve the amendment of the European Electoral Act under their constitutional requirements and complete other procedures to allow proxy voting as soon as possible.
  5. The annexed draft regulation adds a paragraph to Article 3 of the Statute for Members allowing a pregnant Member or a Member who has given birth to have her vote cast by a proxy.
  6. The detailed arrangements are to be laid down in the Rules of Procedure, with delegation applying exclusively to plenary sessions and being entirely voluntary and always revokable.
  7. No Member may hold more than one delegation of vote at any given time.
  8. The identity of the delegating Member and of the proxy must be recorded in the minutes, and published voting results must clearly indicate votes cast by proxy.
  9. The delegating Member is counted for quorums, thresholds and majorities, and no disagreement over a vote cast by delegation affects the validity of the vote or the voting result.
  10. Corrections to votes cast by delegation are possible under the same conditions as other votes but do not affect the validity of the vote and the voting result.
  11. The regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Who is affected

  • Members of the European Parliament who are pregnant or have given birth, who may delegate their vote.
  • Members acting as proxies, who may hold only one delegation at a time.
  • Member States, asked to approve the amendment of the European Electoral Act.

Figures and deadlines

  • Maximum period of three months before the estimated date of birth for proxy voting.
  • Maximum period of six months after giving birth for proxy voting.
  • Entry into force on the twentieth day following publication in the Official Journal.
  • Women made up 38.53% of Members elected at the 2024 European Elections, up from 16% in 1979.

Legal basis: Article 223(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 106a(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.