Strasbourg – The European Parliament has endorsed the My Voice, My Choice initiative, which aims to ensure safe and accessible abortion across the EU. This initiative was introduced by the Slovenian NGO Institute 8 March. Slovenian MEPs are divided in their support for the initiative. Coordinator Nika Kovač highlighted the achievement as a significant win for Slovenia.
During the plenary session in Strasbourg, 358 MEPs backed the resolution in support of the citizens’ initiative, which had garnered 1.1 million signatures from Europeans, while 202 voted against it and 79 abstained.
The non-binding resolution calls for the European Commission to create a voluntary financial mechanism to provide safe abortions for women who lack access to such services under their national laws.
“Today, I can proudly say that we have changed the history of Europe, and that small Slovenia is leading the charge,” Kovač stated after the vote. “This is a victory for Slovenia and for our core values,” she added during an online press conference.
Parliament first addressed a resolution from MEPs of the center-right EPP and the right-leaning European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which was supported by all five Slovenian MEPs from the EPP, but it was ultimately rejected.
Kovač criticized the Slovenian MEPs who opposed the initiative’s resolution, labeling their actions as petty political maneuvers.
In the vote on the adopted resolution, Slovenian MEPs had differing stances. The five EPP members – Romana Tomc, Zala Tomašič, Branko Grims, Milan Zver, and Matej Tonin – opposed it, while Irena Joveva, Marjan Šarec (both from Renew), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), and Vladimir Prebilič (Greens) supported it.
With the passage of this resolution, the European Parliament has, according to the Institute 8 March, sent a robust message to the European Commission, which began considering the initiative on September 1 and has until early March 2026 to respond. (17 December)
Leave a Reply