Swedish Minister Brings Three-Month-Old Son to EU Meeting

Swedish Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari attended Thursday's EU Council meeting with her three-month-old son, Adam. According to Council officials, this was the first time a baby had attended an official meeting of EU ministers.

Pourmokhtari, 30, who became the youngest minister in Swedish history, said she wanted the gesture to show that women should not be forced to choose between their careers and family responsibilities.

The minister had just returned from parental leave. Her husband, who is currently on leave, traveled with her to Luxembourg and looked after their son during the meeting. She highlighted Sweden's social welfare system, among the most generous in the world, which offers parents up to 16 months of paid leave.

The system also includes non-transferable paternity months, which encourage men to spend time with their children and make it easier for them to take on household responsibilities.

Pourmokhtari called on other European governments not to view support for families merely as a financial burden but to focus instead on more flexible rules. She said this prevents working parents from burning out and brings enormous economic and non-economic value to society.

Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland's deputy climate minister, praised his Swedish counterpart's initiative, describing it as a natural part of life.

(Reuters, Max)