MEPs voted Thursday in favor of including the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, a modification which, however, has no chance of succeeding at this stage since it would require the unanimous agreement of the Member States.
The resolution, supported by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe (centrists and liberals), the Greens and The Left (radical left) groups, was adopted by 336 votes for, 163 against and 39 abstentions, during a mini-plenary session in Brussels. This request has already been made several times by the European Parliament.
The vote of MEPs comes more than a month after the inclusion of voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) in the French Constitution. French President Emmanuel Macron himself spoke out in favor of including the “freedom to resort” to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, where according to him “nothing is taken for granted and everything is to defend.
“A fundamental freedom”
During the voting session on Thursday, French MEP Manon Aubry (The Left) castigated “the attacks of the extreme right and reactionaries”. “No, the right to abortion is not a question of point of view, it is a human right. No, the right to abortion is not a controversial subject. It is a fundamental freedom No, the right to abortion does not kill, on the contrary it saves lives,” she declared.
The European Parliament wants Article 3 of the Charter to be amended to stipulate that “everyone has the right to physical autonomy, to free, informed, complete and universal access to sexual and reproductive rights and to all health services. related health services without discrimination, including access to safe and legal abortion.
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, proclaimed in December 2020, has the same legal value as the treaties, and any revision requires the unanimity of member states. However, the right to abortion is restricted in several EU countries. In Poland, a country with a Catholic tradition, abortion is only authorized in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. In Malta, where abortion remained illegal in all circumstances, the legislation was relaxed in June 2023 but abortion is only authorized in the sole case where the life of the mother is in danger and the fetus is not not viable.