Swedish minister attends EU meeting while carrying his three‑month‑old son

By Enitan Abdultawab

Sweden's Environment and Climate Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, attracted international attention after attending a European Union ministerial meeting in Luxembourg with her three‑month‑old son, Adam—a first for the bloc.

The 30‑year‑old minister entered the environment ministers’ session carrying her baby in a sling, with an aide pushing a stroller beside her.

Speaking to reporters, Pourmokhtari explained that her choice reflected her belief that women need not choose between motherhood and public service.

“Happy also to be an example of not having to choose between being a present minister and a present mother,” she said, while her son rested on her chest.

She added that one of Europe’s strengths is its capacity to support working parents.

“There are many things that make Europe a wonderful place to live. One of them being just this, that we can have the possibility of attending meetings and attending to my child,” she said.

According to EU officials, it is believed to be the first time a baby has attended one of the European Union’s ministerial meetings.

The moment was warmly received by fellow delegates, with French official Monique Barbut presenting Pourmokhtari with a gift for her son during the gathering.

Pourmokhtari’s appearance has reignited discussions about the challenges many women face in balancing childcare and professional responsibilities.

In recent years, several institutions have introduced measures to support working mothers. The European Parliament, for example, amended its rules to allow lawmakers who have recently given birth to vote by proxy.

Pourmokhtari joins a growing list of female political leaders who have challenged traditional expectations around motherhood and leadership.

In 2018, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made headlines when she brought her three‑month‑old daughter, Neve, to the United Nations General Assembly, marking the first time a baby attended the global gathering. A year earlier, Australian senator Larissa Waters became the first woman to breastfeed her newborn on the floor of Australia’s Parliament.

The Swedish minister’s decision is widely viewed as another symbolic step toward making political and professional spaces more accommodating for parents, particularly mothers.