Historic First: Baby Joins EU Ministerial Meeting
In an unprecedented move, Swedish Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari brought her three-month-old son, Adam, to an EU environment ministerial meeting in Luxembourg on June 25, 2026. The presence of the baby at the negotiating table surprised fellow ministers gathered for discussions on climate change policies. An EU Council official confirmed it was the first time, to the institution’s knowledge, that a baby had joined a meeting of EU ministers.
Symbolic Gesture for Parental Leave Policies
Pourmokhtari, 30, who was the youngest government minister in Sweden’s history when she took office in 2022, brought Adam to highlight the benefits of parental leave policies that do not force women to choose between work and family. “I wanted to showcase being an example of not having to make that choice. Which, of course, also requires having a partner that’s not a dinosaur, someone who’s quite modern and up for it to tag along,” she told Reuters.
Sweden’s Generous Parental Leave System
Sweden has one of the world’s most generous parental leave policies, funded by the country’s high-tax system, which has become a political flashpoint in the ongoing election campaign. Parents receive about 16 months of paid leave in total, with 90 days reserved for each parent individually that cannot be transferred. These non-transferable periods, often called “dad months,” were introduced to encourage fathers to spend more time with their children.
Support from Partner and Team
Pourmokhtari has just returned from parental leave, while her husband is on leave until Sweden’s election in September and traveled with her to Luxembourg to care for Adam. She credits Sweden’s policies and support from her team with making it “much less controversial” for her husband to care for Adam while she works. She emphasized that supportive policies go beyond longer leave periods, urging governments to consider more flexible rules on sharing leave and affordable childcare.
Value Beyond Economics
Pourmokhtari noted that such policies create value that should not be underestimated, including reducing burnout among workers. “It’s creating a lot of value that shouldn’t be underestimated. Value that might not always be economic — but in the end, might also be economic, in not having burnt-out workers,” she said.
Positive Reactions from Colleagues
Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s deputy climate minister, said having a baby in a political meeting was no trouble. “I think it’s great. It’s not a handicap, it’s just a part of life,” he told Reuters.
