The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) adopted a draft resolution and an oral question for the Commission on Wednesday, by 26 votes in favour, 12 against and with no abstentions as a follow up to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘My Voice My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion’.
The draft resolution underlines that many women in Europe still lack full access to safe and legal abortion, and raises concerns about the legal and practical barriers that persist in several EU countries. The MEPs call on those countries to reform their abortion laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.
The adopted text also calls on the Commission, in line with the My Voice, My Choice proposal, to establish an opt-in financial mechanism to be open to all EU countries on a voluntary basis, supported by EU funding, to ensure solidarity. This financial mechanism would enable EU countries to provide access to safe termination of pregnancies in accordance with their domestic laws for anyone who still lacks access to safe and legal abortion.
The MEPs stress the EU’s role in supporting efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and call for stronger European action to safeguard bodily autonomy and universal access to SRHR, including family planning information, affordable contraception, safe and legal abortion, and maternal healthcare.
They also express deep concern over the growing backlash against women’s rights and gender equality in Europe and globally, including the rollback of SRHR and attacks on women’s rights defenders, and strongly condemn anti-gender movements that seek to undermine equality and human rights.
With the oral question to the European Commission, the MEPs aim to prepare a plenary debate on how the Commission intends to follow up on the initiative. The debate would be followed by a vote on a resolution.
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After the vote, rapporteur Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew, Sweden) said: “No woman should have to leave her country just to exercise her human rights. Sexual and reproductive healthcare is a basic human right. This vote is a huge win for everyone who stood behind the My Voice, My Choice movement. It shows that when people mobilise and act, they can push Europe to actually deliver. It’s proof that our Union can stand up for both women’s freedom of choice, and respect for national laws. This initiative shows what’s possible when citizens and institutions join forces to push for equality and democracy.”
Next steps
The oral question and draft resolution are expected to be included on the agenda of an upcoming plenary session for a debate and vote. A public hearing on the citizen’s initiative will take place on 2 December 2025 in the Parliament.
Background
On 1 September 2025, the Commission accepted the submission of the citizen’s initiative ‘My Voice My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion’ as a valid initiative, after it collected over one million verified signatures across the Union.
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