Nika Kovač, coordinator of the “My Voice, My Choice” campaign, stated at a press conference near the Berlaymont building on Monday, “Today we are making history: for the first time, the European Commission is required to put the issue of the right to abortion on the political agenda through a citizens’ initiative.”
Abortion laws vary significantly among EU member states, with Malta having a strict ban on voluntary termination of pregnancy. This initiative does not seek to establish a right to abortion at the European level, but rather aims to provide financial support to member states that choose to offer safe abortion care to those without access.
Organizers of a European citizens’ initiative have one year to collect 1 million signatures from at least 7 member states. The “My Voice, My Choice” initiative successfully gathered 1.125 million signatures, surpassing the threshold in 19 member states, including Belgium, which contributed 18,313 signatures. It has thus achieved the status of the twelfth successful citizens’ initiative.
The Commission has until March 2, 2026, to respond. While it is not mandated to act, it must provide an explanation if it chooses not to. The Commission reiterated on Monday that its consideration of the initiative is limited to areas that do not conflict with national healthcare legislation.
Leave a Reply