European Parliament MEPs have approved an amendment to the statute governing Members’ work to permit delegation of voting rights before and after childbirth, the Parliament said on Thursday.
What Parliament is doing
The change, endorsed by Parliament on Thursday, amends the statute that sets out how Members of the European Parliament carry out their duties. According to a Parliament press release, the revision allows MEPs to delegate their voting rights both before and after childbirth. The Committee on Legal Affairs is noted as the committee associated with the development of this change.
Why it matters
The amendment adjusts internal rules that determine how MEPs participate in parliamentary votes. By enabling delegation of voting rights in the period surrounding childbirth, the statute change alters the way maternity-related absences can be managed in plenary decision-making.
What happens next
The press release does not specify further procedural steps, an implementation timetable, or detailed mechanics for how delegation will operate. The Committee on Legal Affairs is identified in the announcement, but no additional information on oversight, registration of delegates, duration of proxy periods, or complementary measures was provided in the text released by Parliament.
Source: European Parliament press release
