With less than two weeks to go until the European elections, new MEPs still lack formal parental leave, which could deter young people from running for office.
advertisementThe European Parliament is the most egalitarian parliament in the European Union, with the proportion of women MPs set to increase from around 16% in 1979 to around 40% by 2024. Yet MEPs cannot apply for parental leave, vote remotely or appoint temporary replacements.
“If we want an equal system in which fathers as well as mothers can combine childcare and political activity, we need to recognise the right to a family life,” Raquel García Hermida van der Wale, a candidate for the Dutch EU elections for D66 (Renew Europe), told Euronews.
Current electoral law and the European Parliament's internal rules do not foresee the possibility of temporary replacement of MEPs for reasons such as maternity, parental or parental leave, nor do they allow for the transfer of voting rights to other MEPs by proxy.
In 2022, Parliament adopted a proposal for rules on elections to the European Parliament that would introduce this possibility. However, two years later, the proposal remains stalled in Parliament.
“Parental leave is not about making the work of elected representatives more comfortable, it is about ensuring continuity in the representative mandate given to us by our people,” MEP Leila Chaibi (France/Left) told Euronews.
Chaibi was one of 13 MEPs who called on EU institutions to reform their rules to adapt to modern times in a manifesto signed by Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola (Malta/European People's Party) last year.
In line with her manifesto, Metsola introduced a special provision for MEPs who were on maternity leave and therefore could not vote, to give reasons for their absence.
From now on, MEPs who are unable to vote because they are on maternity, parental or parental leave will have an asterisk next to their names, but further measures are still planned.
One of the main demands of the manifesto was the introduction of provisions to allow for remote voting, which has already been introduced and used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the European Parliament's communications service, Mezzola is working with an internal working group on information technology innovation strategy to consider the possibility of extending its use to MEPs on maternity, parental and parental leave.
In a letter dated April 2, 2024, the Working Group concluded that the introduction of hybrid voting in plenary sessions would raise a number of technical, organisational and procedural challenges that require further assessment.
The group identified authentication methods, the quality of remote network connections, and the real-time nature of the voting process as the main challenges.
The potential solutions identified were deemed risky even if applied to a small number of voters and a threat to the fundamental trust provided by the current voting system.
“this [lack of parental leave] “These elections do not encourage the participation of young people or those who have just started family life, especially women,” Garcia Hermida said, adding that “if you are a young politician who wants to have children or has just had a child, you might want to think twice about running.”
However, the EU institutions argue that a “leave of absence approval” is not necessary and is not possible, as MEPs organise the exercise of their free powers, regardless of gender.
“The European Parliament has facilities in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg where parents can work and leave their children in family rooms,” a parliament spokesman told Euronews when asked if any internal reforms were planned.
For France's left-wing lawmaker, who became a mother last year, the lack of reform poses a problem of representation.
“The lack of these measures does not encourage young people, especially women, to run for office,” Chaibi argued.
advertisementIn fact, the average age of MEPs in May 2024 will be 53, with only three under 30.
Parliament said it would continue to seek a solution to the issue during its next term, as 14 member states, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and Sweden, already explicitly grant MEPs the right to such a holiday scheme.
In Germany, members of the Bundestag are entitled to up to six weeks of maternity leave before the birth and a further eight weeks after, while in Spain, MPs can vote remotely while absent from parliament, although this is not officially recognised.
“The European Parliament should be an example of what is expected of businesses and citizens,” said Chaibi, who is seeking re-election. “By taking no action to replace elected members on parental leave, EU institutions are sending the wrong message.”
