This Swedish Minister Brought Her Baby Son With Her To An EU Council Meeting In A First
"I am also glad to be an example that you do not have to choose between being a present minister and a present mother."
Sweden's environment minister Romina Pourmokhtari attended an EU meeting in Luxembourg with her three-month-old son on her chest, marking the first time a baby has been present at an EU ministerial meeting.
On Thursday, June 25, 30-year-old Pourmokhtar, who became Sweden's youngest-ever government minister in 2022 at age 26, brought her son Adam to a meeting of EU environment ministers, carrying him in a baby sling while an aide pushed his stroller.
She said the moment was meant to show that a minister does not have to choose between being present at work and being present as a parent.
"I am also glad to be an example that you do not have to choose between being a present minister and a present mother," she said, adding that European policies make it possible for her to take part in high-level meetings while caring for her child.
Pourmokhtar has just returned from parental leave, while her husband is on leave until Sweden's election in September, traveling with her to Luxembourg to care for Adam.
Sweden has one of the most generous parental leave systems in the world.
Parents are entitled to about 16 months of paid leave to share after a child’s birth, including 90 days set aside for each parent that cannot be transferred to the one another, a rule designed to push fathers to take on more childcare.
The moment has reignited a wider conversation in Europe about parental leave policy and whether workplaces, including political institutions, are built to support parents of young children.
Supporters of Sweden's system say it allows parents, particularly mothers, to return to careers sooner without giving up time with a newborn.
An EU official said it was likely the first time a baby had attended a bloc ministerial meeting.
Spain's climate minister Sara Aagesen praised the move publicly, while Poland's deputy climate minister, Krzysztof Bolesta, said the baby caused no disruption during the talks.
Pourmokhtari also called for European countries to expand parental leave flexibility and improve access to affordable childcare.
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