European Union ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday for talks on climate policy had an unexpected attendee at the negotiating table — a three-month-old baby.
Sweden’s Climate Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, brought her son Adam to the EU Council meeting, making history as the first baby known to have attended a gathering of EU ministers.
According to an EU Council official, it was the first such instance recorded by the institution.
Pourmokhtari said her decision was intended to highlight how supportive parental leave policies can help parents balance professional responsibilities with family life without being forced to choose between the two.
“I wanted to show that you don’t have to make that choice,” she told Reuters, adding that support from her husband and workplace had made it possible for her to return to work while continuing to care for her child.
The 30-year-old minister, who became Sweden’s youngest-ever cabinet member when she took office in 2022, recently returned from parental leave. Her husband, currently on leave himself, accompanied her to Luxembourg and cared for Adam during the meeting.
The episode has also drawn attention to Sweden’s extensive parental leave system, widely regarded as one of the most generous in the world. Parents are entitled to around 16 months of paid leave, with a portion reserved exclusively for each parent to encourage fathers to take an active role in childcare.
Pourmokhtari credited both the policy framework and support from her staff for making it easier for her family to manage childcare responsibilities while maintaining professional commitments.
She argued that family-friendly policies should extend beyond longer leave periods and include flexible arrangements for sharing parental leave as well as affordable childcare options.
Such measures, she said, can reduce stress on working parents and help prevent employee burnout, generating long-term social and economic benefits.
The minister’s move was warmly received by fellow delegates. Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s deputy climate minister, said having a baby at the meeting caused no disruption and reflected a normal part of life.
“I think it’s great,” Bolesta said. “It’s not a handicap, it’s just a part of life.”
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