Brussels, 16/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The hard-line left and right wings of the European Parliament clashed in Strasbourg on Thursday 16 January during a debate on non-discrimination in the context of health and reproductive and sexual rights. The clash was largely dominated by the question of withdrawing women's rights to abortion, as envisaged by Spain. When quizzed on the polemic, the Commission took refuge behind the principle of subsidiarity, as did the EPP Group.
MEPS of the Greens, Socialist and United Left Groups as well as Liberals clearly supported the Spanish women currently campaigning against the draft legislation aimed at eliminating the right to abortion in Spain. They expressed a firm protest against the draft law of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, considering it to be regressive and saying that it is detrimental to fundamental rights and that it deprives women of their right to decide. Several MEPs considered the draft law causes discrimination towards women with little financial means, who will resort to dangerous illegal abortion, while rich women will be able to go abroad for abortion.
Electoral interests. Iratxe Garcia Perez (S&D, Spain) stated that, if the draft law is maintained, Spanish women will have fewer rights than their mothers, and a minority will then have imposed its own morality on the whole of the population. The same was true for Spanish Liberal Izaskun Bilbao, who sees the draft law as a return to the time when religious conventions were imposed and when women were considered as minors. In her view, Rajoy's government does not responding to a social problem but rather electoral interests. Pervenche Berès (S&D, France) called for the draft legislation to be withdrawn. Zita Gurmai (ALDE, Hungary) called on the European Commission to defend the free choice of women. Iñaki Irazabalbeitia Fernandez (Greens/EFA, Spain) also called on the EU to establish common rights for all women when it comes to abortion.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Commissioner Siim Kallas pointed out that the treaties do not confer authority upon the EU when it comes to access to healthcare. The Commission thus plans to respect the responsibilities of member states on this, while recognising the different national legislative approaches with regard to abortion. The commissioner confirmed that the EU is not intervening but that it is determined to abolish existing discrimination regarding access to healthcare.
This approach is generally supported by the EPP which, although there is dissension within its ranks on the matter, has not openly disavowed the draft law carried by the leader of the Spanish People's Party. The EPP underlines that reproductive health comes under the principle of subsidiarity and the competence of member states, said Edit Bauer (EPP, Slovakia), the spokeswoman for the group on women's rights. She added that it is not possible to recommend solutions that are totally unacceptable in some states on such a delicate matter. (MD/transl.jl)