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During the plenary week in Strasbourg, a Portuguese MEP faced a unique situation when he was denied entry to the session for bringing his young child with him.
MEP João Albuquerque later expressed his belief that the right to bring children to parliament is essential for equality, especially for women.
Despite initially being refused entry, the Portuguese MEP was eventually allowed into the plenary after a review of the case and rules of entry, following calls for solidarity from fellow MEPs.
MEP Karen Melchior emphasized the importance of allowing politicians to be parents as well, calling for a change in the rules on access to the plenary.
According to parliament’s rules, only certain individuals are allowed access to the chamber, but children of MEPs and staff are permitted on the premises and can be enrolled in the EU institution’s nurseries.
MEP Vlad Gheorghe proposed a “Bring your child to the plenary” day for the next session in Brussels, aiming to send a message of support and inclusion for parents and children.
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MEPs have previously called for better adaptation of parliament’s rules to accommodate the needs of parent members, highlighting the lack of parental leave policies for MEPs.
MEP Leïla Chaibi stressed the need for the parliament to modernize and be more inclusive and representative, particularly in supporting parents and children.
