EU Electoral Act: Proxy Voting for MEPs During Pregnancy and Early Motherhood

EU Council Sanctions Press Releases

Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Council of the EU has agreed to amend the European electoral law to allow Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to use proxy voting during late pregnancy and early motherhood. This change permits delegation of votes for up to three months before the estimated birth date and six months after childbirth.

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What changed

The Council of the EU has agreed to amend the European electoral law, allowing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to delegate their vote via proxy. This provision applies during late pregnancy (up to three months before the estimated date of birth) and early motherhood (up to six months after childbirth). The agreement aims to enhance equality, inclusiveness, and democratic representation by supporting women's participation in European politics and balancing parliamentary duties with motherhood.

While the Council has agreed in principle, the text will be forwarded to the European Parliament for consent, followed by formal adoption by the Council and ratification by member states according to their national constitutional procedures. The specific conditions for vote delegation will be laid down in the statute for MEPs, ensuring transparency and integrity, while the EP's rules of procedure will detail the modalities. Regulated entities, primarily MEPs and parliamentary bodies, should prepare for the implementation of these new proxy voting rules once all legislative and ratification steps are completed.

What to do next

Monitor European Parliament's consent and Council's formal adoption of the amended European electoral law.
Prepare for the implementation of proxy voting rules for MEPs during pregnancy and early motherhood, as detailed in the EP's rules of procedure and MEP statute.
Ensure national constitutional procedures are followed for ratification by member states.

Source document (simplified)

Council of the EU
Press release
17 March 2026 11:10

European electoral act: Council agrees to allow proxy voting for MEPs during pregnancy and after giving birth

Today, the Council agreed to amend the European electoral law to allow proxy voting at the European Parliament (EP) during late pregnancy and early motherhood.

A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who is pregnant or has recently given birth may delegate her vote to another member for up to three months before the estimated date of birth and up to six months after childbirth.

Today’s agreement is about equality, inclusiveness, and democratic representation. By enabling proxy voting for MEPs who are pregnant or have recently given birth, we are actively supporting women’s participation in European politics, making it easier for them to balance their parliamentary duties with motherhood. This measure will increase trust in our democratic processes and strengthen democratic participation. We look forward to the European Parliament’s consent.

Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus
With a view to the practical implementation of the proxy voting, the Council added to the Parliament’s initial proposal that 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. Furthermore, the EP rules of procedure should lay down the modalities for this delegation of vote.

Next steps

Following today’s agreement in principle, the Council will forward the text to the EP for its consent. The proposal will then return to the Council for formal adoption. Finally, the act must be ratified by the member states in accordance with their respective national constitutional procedures before it can enter into force.

Background

The existing rules provide that the mandate of an MEP is personal, which requires that their vote be cast individually and in person. On 13 November 2025, the EP adopted a resolution for a targeted revision of the European electoral act.

This file follows a ‘special legislative procedure’ whereby the European Parliament first adopts a proposal, which is then transmitted to the Council. The Council must then establish its position on the proposal and shall request the consent from the Parliament.

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