Brussels, 24/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - During their informal meeting in Norrkoping, the Ministers for equal Opportunities and Social security of the EU heavily criticised the decision by President Bush to no longer authorise the financing of abortion programmes abroad such as the birth control method. Supported by the Swedish Ministers Ingela Thalen (Social Security) and Margaret Winberg (Equal Opportunities), the European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou wondered: "Why is it so easy to undo what has been won these last years, to change in one day the policies concerning women's rights?" the Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson felt, as for him, that "this decision stems from internal United States policy" and that "it should not affect EU-United States relations.