Europe to vote on scheme to help abortion access

17/12/2025 17:08

The EU's parliament will vote today on a scheme that would enable women from nations restricting abortion to terminate pregnancies in another member state free of charge.



The "My Voice, My Choice" citizens' initiative proposes a fund from the EU budget to cover procedures for people from nations with near-total bans such as Malta and Poland or places where abortion is hard to access like Italy and Croatia.



While the trend in Europe has been towards more accessibility for abortions, with the UK decriminalising it and France making it a constitutional freedom, there has been a surge in support for far-right parties, many of which oppose abortion.



Proponents of the initiative, including abortion rights campaigners and some members of European Parliament (MEPs) from the left to centre-right, say it should reduce unsafe practices and help women lacking funds for a procedure abroad.



Critics, including far-right and some centre-right MEPs, say the proposal interferes in national laws and traditional Christian values.