In a written answer on 13 July 2026, Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli (or the responsible Commissioner) announced that the European Commission will conduct a stress test of Directive 2010/41/EU on maternity protection for self-employed women, aiming to identify why the law is under-used despite persistent gender equality challenges. The answer, responding to a parliamentary question by MEPs Nela Riehl (Verts/ALE) and Anna Strolenberg (Verts/ALE), also confirms a forthcoming study on family-related leave for self-employed persons linked to the Work-Life Balance Directive.
The Commission states it does not have evidence of systemic non-compliance across Member States, but acknowledges that national frameworks are evolving. It is currently engaged in an informal exchange with one Member State regarding transposition. The stress test, part of the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, will screen the directive for relevance and effectiveness. The study on family-related leave will accompany the implementation report on the Work-Life Balance Directive.
The answer offers no concrete legislative proposals or numerical targets, instead outlining future evaluations. This leaves open whether the Commission will propose amendments to strengthen maternity benefits for self-employed women, a gap highlighted by civil society organisations. The stress test and study are expected to inform any future policy action, but no timeline is given for their completion or for potential legislative follow-up.
Self-employed women across the EU may benefit if the stress test leads to stronger protections, but face continued uncertainty until concrete measures emerge. National authorities may face additional reporting or compliance burdens if the directive is tightened. Business-interruption insurers could be affected if pregnancy and childbirth are no longer excluded from coverage. The Commission itself signals a cautious approach, prioritising evaluation over immediate legislative change.