EU climate ministers were joined by an unexpected guest at a council meeting in Luxembourg: a three-month-old baby, brought by Swedish climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari to highlight parental leave policies.
The infant, Adam, accompanied Pourmokhtari, marking what an EU Council official said was, to their knowledge, the first time a baby has attended a meeting of EU ministers.
Pourmokhtari, 30, said the decision was intended to demonstrate how modern parental leave systems can enable parents to balance political responsibilities with family life.
“I wanted to showcase being an example of not having to make that choice,” she told Reuters.
Pourmokhtari used her visit to Luxembourg to highlight Sweden's parental leave model and the importance of shared responsibility between parents.
She said supportive policies allow parents to avoid choosing between career and family, adding that her experience had been made easier by both the design of Sweden's parental leave system and her partner's support.
She also stressed the importance of supportive workplaces and partners, saying this had enabled her husband to take parental leave while she returned to work.
Sweden is known for having one of the world's most generous parental leave systems, funded through taxation.
Parents are entitled to around 16 months of paid leave in total. Of this, 90 days are reserved for each parent individually and cannot be transferred.
These non-transferable periods, often referred to as "dad months", are designed to encourage fathers to take a more active role in early childcare.
The design of Sweden's parental leave system has become a feature of domestic political debate, particularly during election campaigns, as it is linked to broader discussions about taxation and welfare spending.
Pourmokhtari credited the policy framework, alongside institutional flexibility, with making it easier for families in public office to manage childcare responsibilities.
She also called for further discussion on childcare affordability and greater flexibility in parental leave policies across Europe.
Other ministers reacted positively to the unusual presence of a baby at the negotiating table.
Krzysztof Bolesta said it caused no disruption to proceedings.
“I think it’s great. It’s not a handicap, it’s just a part of life,” he told Reuters.
A symbolic moment in EU politics
The brief appearance of a baby at the EU climate meeting highlighted broader questions about work-life balance in politics, as governments across Europe continue to debate how best to support families while maintaining the demands of public office.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime ca...
Hungary is channelling around two million cubic metres of water into the park's largest marshland, Fekete-rét (Black Meadow), through the Nyugati irr...
Natural disasters caused $5.7 million in damage across Tajikistan during the first half of 2026, as hundreds of avalanches and mudflows swept through ...
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
On 17 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, the suspension of one of President Donald Trump's teleprompter aides and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appointment of an acting defence minister.
Hungary is channelling around two million cubic metres of water into the park's largest marshland, Fekete-rét (Black Meadow), through the Nyugati irrigation canal to replenish wetlands affected by prolonged dry conditions.
Natural disasters caused $5.7 million in damage across Tajikistan during the first half of 2026, as hundreds of avalanches and mudflows swept through the country, killing 12 people, according to government figures.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
Russia's government is prioritising fuel supplies for vehicles delivering food to major retail chains as the country grapples with nationwide fuel shortages caused by repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on its energy infrastructure.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
At least 20 children and one adult have been killed after a school bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda. Dozens of other passengers were injured when the vehicle reportedly lost control and overturned.
North Korean state media called South Korea a “puppet” over its participation in a U.S.-led maritime exercise, warning that Seoul and Washington would bear responsibility for any “unpredictable escalation” in the region.
The U.S. will impose new 25% tariffs on Brazilian imports, including furniture, ethanol, machinery, footwear and sugar. The move launches a new wave of tariffs that could eventually affect dozens of countries.
A kāhu, or swamp harrier hawk, found in Wairarapa is New Zealand’s second confirmed H5N1 bird flu case.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment