The topic sparked animated discussions in the European Parliament plenary on Tuesday evening. MEPs with center-right and far-right groups tabled competing texts to the resolution put forward by Renew’s Abir Al-Sahlani on behalf of the women’s rights and gfinisher equality committee.
Supporters of the scheme argued it would assist reduce unsafe abortions and ensure women across the bloc have equal rights; those who oppose it, mostly from conservative groups, dismissed it as an ideological push and EU overreach into national policy.
“This initiative … was born in the hearts of people. This is a plea for request of freedom, health and equality,” stated S&D MEP Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus.
“All I want for Christmas is for this vote to pass tomorrow,” stated Greens MEP Terry Reintke, before walking off to a round of applaapply.
“The Commission should not have allowed a proposal in an area they don’t have competence in, such as abortion, especially when it requires financial aid to overcome national laws,” stated Patriots MEP Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, describing it as “betrayal.”
Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib informed MEPs the Commission assessed that “providing financial support for member states’ actions that promote health could fall under the EU supportive competence.”
“Any proposal must respect the fact that health policy and the organization and delivery of health services are competences of member states,” she stated. This initiative “does not seek to interfere with national laws on abortion,” she added.
Abortion laws vary greatly across the EU, from near-total bans in Poland and Malta to liberal rules in the Netherlands and the U.K. The fund could be a game modifyr for the thousands of European women who travel every year to another EU countest to access abortion care.
The European Commission now has until March 2026 to give a response.
UPDATE: This story has been updated with discussion from the plenary debate Tuesday.
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