BRUSSELS: Sweden’s environment minister brought her baby to an EU meeting on Thursday, in a barrier-breaking move she said showed it was possible to be both “a present minister and a present mother”.

Romina Pourmokhtari arrived at the ministerial talks in Luxembourg with her three-month-old son, Adam, in a sling with a pram-pushing aide in tow — becoming the latest public figure to shake up conventions around motherhood and work.

“Happy also to be an example of not having to choose between being a present minister and a present mother,” the 30-year-old told journalists as Adam rested on her chest.

“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.” Her French colleague Monique Barbut promptly gave her a gift — a baby onesie.

An EU official said it was thought to be the first time a baby was brought to one of the bloc’s ministerial meetings. Mothers are particularly affected by the challenge of juggling work and childcare, with studies showing women tend to miss out on promotions, career opportunities and higher earnings after having a child.

Spain’s Climate Minister Sara Aagesen welcomed Pourmokhtari’s decision to bring “little Adam” to the environment talks in a social media post.

Published in Dawn, June 26, 2026