Written by Marie Lecerf.
Maternity leave and voting procedures for Members of parliaments differ widely across the European Union (EU). Maternity-related absences are considered justified for Members of the European Parliament, but the current rules do not permit remote voting, proxy voting or temporary substitution. Maternity leave for parliamentarians is generally permitted across the EU’s Member States, although legal frameworks and practical arrangements differ. Some national parliaments only allow for temporary substitution in committee work, while others rely on informal agreements. Only a small number of countries, including Spain, Greece and Luxembourg, have formal provisions enabling Members on maternity leave to vote in absentia.
While several parliaments temporarily expanded remote participation during the COVID‑19 pandemic, such measures were typically limited in scope and duration. In most cases, voting in plenary continues to require physical presence in the chamber.
Discussions are ongoing at both European and national level to explore ways of supporting Members in reconciling their parliamentary duties with family responsibilities. Most recently, President Roberta Metsola proposed revisions to the European Electoral Act and the Parliament’s implementing measures, including the potential introduction of proxy voting for Members on maternity leave, aimed at aligning parliamentary rules more closely with evolving expectations around work-life balance. This briefing focuses exclusively on maternity leave and does not cover other types of family-related absence, such as paternity or parental leave.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Maternity leave and voting procedures in the European Parliament and EU national parliaments‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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