The General Affairs Council on 26 May 2026 adopted two legislative items without debate: a Council Decision amending the European Parliament electoral act to allow MEPs who are pregnant or have recently given birth to delegate their vote for up to 3 months before the estimated birth date and up to 6 months after childbirth, and a Council Directive on mobile voters in municipal elections to facilitate participation of EU citizens residing in another member state. Both items were adopted unanimously, with one abstention on the electoral act amendment.
The decision on MEP maternity leave addresses a long-standing gap in parliamentary procedures, enabling pregnant or postpartum MEPs to delegate their vote without losing representation. The directive on mobile voters aims to reduce barriers for EU citizens living in another member state to vote in local elections, requiring proactive information campaigns, simplified registration processes, and safeguards against automatic removal from home country electoral rolls.
No prior coverage of these files exists in the last 180 days. The adoption marks the final step in the legislative process for both items, which were previously agreed between the European Parliament and the Council. The measures are expected to take effect following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.