Ministers of the European Union governments gathered for a discussion on climate change policies on Thursday and were surprisingly joined by a young participant at the negotiating table: a three-month-old baby.Swedish climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari brought her son, Adam, to the EU council meeting in Luxembourg to highlight the benefits of parental leave policies which don’t force women to choose between work and family responsibilities.&nbsp;“I wanted to showcase being an example of not having to make that choice. Which, of course, also requires having a partner that’s not a dinosaur, someone who’s quite modern ⁠and up for it to tag along,” said Pourmokhtari while speaking to the Reuters news agency.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-strong-nuclear-verification-needed-in-iran-after-war-says-iaea-chief-rafael-grossi-1782488144019">‘Intentions not enough, very strong nuclear verification needed in Iran after war,’ says IAEA chief Rafael Grossi</a>&nbsp;An EU Council official later confirmed that it was the first time in the institution’s history that a baby had joined a meeting of the ministers.&nbsp;Pourmokhtari, 30, was the youngest government minister in Sweden’s history when she took office in 2022. She has just returned from parental leave, while her husband is on leave until Sweden’s election in September and travelled with her to Luxembourg to care for Adam.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/RaceToPower?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaceToPower</a> | Swedish minister brings baby to EU meet In a first for the EU, a three-month-old infant attends a climate conference <a href="https://x.com/kripatistic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kripatistic</a> has more <a href="https://t.co/D20NSJvtWU">pic.twitter.com/D20NSJvtWU</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2070525428725616702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Sweden has one of the world’s most generous parental leave policies, funded by the country’s high taxes, which has become a political flashpoint in the election campaign.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-twin-quakes-toll-climbs-to-589-thousands-missing-us-temporarily-removes-sanctions-on-caracas-1782482230379">Venezuela twin quakes toll climbs to 589, thousands missing; US temporarily lifts sanctions on Caracas</a> Swedish parents get about 16 months of paid leave ⁠in total. Out of this leave, 90 days are reserved for each parent individually and cannot be transferred to the other. However, if a parent does not utilise their allotted number of leaves, they are forfeited.&nbsp;These non-transferable periods, popularly known as “dad months”, were introduced to encourage fathers to spend more time with their little ones.&nbsp;Pourmokhtari credits this policy and the support from her team with making it “much ⁠less controversial” for her husband to take care of Adam while she works.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/zero-tolerance-for-any-attempt-to-exploit-sanatan-faith-of-devotees-says-cm-yogi-after-arrests-in-ram-temple-donation-theft-case-1782473006937">‘Zero tolerance for any attempt to exploit Sanatan, faith of devotees,’ says CM Yogi after arrests in Ram temple donation theft case</a>&nbsp;She said supportive policies were not just a question of spending taxes on longer leave periods and urged governments to also consider more flexible rules on parents sharing leave and ⁠affordable childcare.&nbsp;“It’s creating a lot of value that shouldn’t be underestimated. Value that might not always be economic, but in the end, might also be economic, in not having burnt-out workers,” she said, alluding to ⁠the burden on many parents struggling to juggle work and family.Krzysztof Bolesta, Poland’s deputy climate minister, said it had been no trouble having a baby in a political meeting.“I think it’s great. It’s not a handicap, it’s just a part of life,” he said.

Swedish parents get about 16 months of paid leave ⁠in total. Out of this leave, 90 days are reserved for each parent individually and cannot be transferred to the other. However, if a parent does not utilise their allotted number of leaves, they are forfeited.

Ministers of the European Union governments gathered for a discussion on climate change policies on Thursday and were surprisingly joined by a young participant at the negotiating table: a three-month-old baby. Swedish climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari brought her son, Adam, to the EU council meeting in Luxembourg to highlight the benefits of parental leave policies which don’t force women to choose between work and family responsibilities. “I wanted to showcase being an example of not having to make that choice. Which, of course, also requires having a partner that’s not a dinosaur, someone who’s quite modern ⁠and up for it to tag along,” said Pourmokhtari while speaking to the Reuters news agency. Also Read: ‘Intentions not enough, very strong nuclear verification needed in Iran after war,’ says IAEA chief Rafael Grossi An EU Council official later confirmed that it was the first time in the institution’s history that a baby had joined a meeting of the ministers. Pourmokhtari, 30, was the youngest government minister in Sweden’s history when she took office in 2022. She has just returned from parental leave, while her husband is on leave until Sweden’s election in September and travelled with her to Luxembourg to care for Adam.

Swedish parents get about 16 months of paid leave ⁠in total. Out of this leave, 90 days are reserved for each parent individually and cannot be transferred to the other. However, if a parent does not utilise their allotted number of leaves, they are forfeited.

Youngest delegate? Sweden’s minister Romina Pourmokhtari brings baby to EU meeting on climate

Sweden's new government under Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson which was announced on Tuesday includes the country's youngest-ever cabinet minister.

26-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari has been appointed as the nation's climate minister, making her the youngest person ever to lead the ministry, reports AFP.

Previously, the accolade was held by Aida Hadzialic who in 2014 became Sweden's minister for upper secondary school, adult education and training when she was 27 years old.&nbsp; Hadzialic was forced to resign just two years after taking up the post after&nbsp;controversy ensued over her getting caught driving under influence.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swedens-new-pm-ulf-kristersson-appoints-cabinet-526406">Sweden's new PM Ulf Kristersson appoints cabinet</a>

The newly appointed minister for climate and the environment has previously served as the head of the Liberal Party's youth wing and had in 2020 proposed a meat tax to fight climate change.

Pourmokhtari who was born into an Iranian origin family in the suburbs of Stockholm, has in the past been an outspoken critic of &nbsp;Kristersson's move to shift his party closer to the anti-immigration and nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD), reports AFP.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-spotlight-rising-might-of-swedens-right-516847">WION Spotlight | Rising Might of Sweden’s Right</a>

In a Twitter post dating back to 2020, she wrote "Ulf Kristersson without SD - Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD - No thanks".

Ulf Kristersson has been confirmed prime minister after more than a month of negotiations with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who have agreed to support the coalition in parliament, reports Reuters.

With the nation's inflation at nearly 10 per cent, and the economy headed into a recession, the new government faces a number of challenges.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Sweden's new government under Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson which was announced on Tuesday includes the country's youngest-ever cabinet minister. 26-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari has been appointed as the nation's climate minister, making her the youngest person ever to lead the ministry, reports AFP.

Sweden's new government under Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson which was announced on Tuesday includes the country's youngest-ever cabinet minister. 26-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari has been appointed as the nation's climate minister, making her the youngest person ever to lead the ministry, reports AFP. Previously, the accolade was held by Aida Hadzialic who in 2014 became Sweden's minister for upper secondary school, adult education and training when she was 27 years old. Hadzialic was forced to resign just two years after taking up the post after controversy ensued over her getting caught driving under influence. Also read | Sweden's new PM Ulf Kristersson appoints cabinet The newly appointed minister for climate and the environment has previously served as the head of the Liberal Party's youth wing and had in 2020 proposed a meat tax to fight climate change. Pourmokhtari who was born into an Iranian origin family in the suburbs of Stockholm, has in the past been an outspoken critic of Kristersson's move to shift his party closer to the anti-immigration and nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD), reports AFP. Also read | WION Spotlight | Rising Might of Sweden’s Right In a Twitter post dating back to 2020, she wrote "Ulf Kristersson without SD - Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD - No thanks". Ulf Kristersson has been confirmed prime minister after more than a month of negotiations with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who have agreed to support the coalition in parliament, reports Reuters. With the nation's inflation at nearly 10 per cent, and the economy headed into a recession, the new government faces a number of challenges. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

26-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari becomes Sweden's youngest minister

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Youngest delegate? Sweden’s minister Romina Pourmokhtari brings baby to EU meeting on climate

26-year-old Romina Pourmokhtari becomes Sweden's youngest minister