On Wednesday 5 November, MEPs on the European Parliament's Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) adopted by 26 votes to 12 a resolution supporting the ‘My Voice, My Choice’ European Citizens’ Initiative (https://aeur.eu/f/jbi ), the submission of which was accepted by the Commission on 1 September.
The latter aims to ensure safe and accessible access to abortion in the EU. The text, accompanied by an oral question to the European Commission, will shortly be debated in plenary.
The resolution takes note of the 1.2 million signatures collected across the EU, which MEPs welcome, and points out that the initiative calls for the creation of a voluntary European financial mechanism enabling Member States that so wish to fund access to abortion for women who cannot have it in their own country.
The elected representatives are also asking the Commission to present a proposal along these lines, which would also respect national legislation, in line with both the spirit of the initiative and the EU’s powers.
MEPs also point out that access to sexual and reproductive health, including legal and safe abortion, is a fundamental right. They denounce the persistent restrictions in several Member States, as well as the existence of mandatory deadlines, limitations on methods and financial barriers.
The MEPs therefore reaffirm their call for the right to abortion to be enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and urge Member States to share best practice.
A public hearing on the citizens’ initiative will be held in Parliament on 2 December.
The resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/jbg; the oral question: https://aeur.eu/f/jbh (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)