Urgency for EU abortion funding rises amid election results
Campaigners advocating for a EU level funding mechanism for abortion say the recent election results have intensified the urgency of their efforts. Despite pro-European parties retaining a majority in the European Parliament, there was a significant surge in support for far-right parties, as predicted by polls.
In France, the far-right National Rally (RN) led with 31% of the vote, overshadowing Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, which secured only 15%. Similar trends were observed in Austria and Italy, where far-right parties also came first, and in Germany and Spain, where they made substantial gains.
Campaign for abortion funding
The My Voice, My Choice campaign, championed by european women’s rights activists, sees these election results as a compelling reason to push for EU level abortion funding. The campaign aims to secure European Commission funding to ensure that safe and legal abortion services are available to anyone in Europe who lacks access.
Polish activists, who have been fighting against a near-total abortion ban in their home country, are particularly supportive of this initiative. They have expressed their intent to escalate the issue to the EU level if national changes remain unattainable.
The campaign gained additional momentum after the French parliament voted to amend the constitution, making abortion a “freedom” in response to restrictive laws passed in many US states. Although RN leaders supported the measure, some right-wing and far-right MPs abstained or opposed it.
Activists from various EU countries have gathered half the necessary signatures for a citizens’ initiative and aim to engage with the European Commission and Parliament soon.
Impact of election results
Alice Coffin, the coordinator of the My Voice, My Choice campaign in France, believes that despite the election results, the current European Parliament can still pass the measure, though it will be a “political fight.” She remains optimistic, citing the success of securing a majority in the French Senate for constitutional abortion rights.
Spanish coordinator Kika Fumero, an expert in sexual and gender violence, echoed Coffin’s concerns. She emphasized that as far-right parties gain power, it becomes increasingly difficult to secure funding for reproductive rights and related public policies.
