Resolution on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’
The European Parliament adopted by 358 votes to 202, with 79 abstentions, a resolution on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’.
The European citizens’ initiative (ECI) is a tool for EU citizens to call on the Commission to propose new legislation. When an ECI gathers at least one million signatures, the Commission must, within six months of the ECI’s validation, spell out what actions it intends to take in response.
‘My Voice My Choice’ is a citizens’ movement bringing together more than 300 organisations across Europe. The movement calls on the EU to ensure safe and accessible abortion for all and demands that the EU pass legislation that would create a financial mechanism to help Member States that voluntarily join the mechanism to provide safe abortion care for all those who do not have access to it.
The ‘My Voice, My Choice’ ECI, which received 1.2 million signatures and was officially recognised by the Commission on 1 September 2025. It has created an unprecedented movement across Europe, bringing together diverse citizens, especially young people.
Recalling that the lack of full access to abortion in many parts of Europe not only puts women at risk of physical harm, but also causes undue economic and mental stress for women and families, Parliament called for stronger European action to counter anti-gender movements, safeguard bodily autonomy and ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including family planning information, affordable contraception, safe and legal abortion, and maternal healthcare. It also called for improved dialogue and exchange of best practice to ensure access to SRHR. Member States should reform their abortion laws and policies to bring them into line with international human rights standards and public health guidelines.
The Commission is called on to:
- set up an opt-in mechanism that is open to Member States on a voluntary basis, with EU financial support to ensure solidarity, without interfering with national laws and regulations;
- submit a proposal to provide Member States with financial support to enable them to provide safe termination of pregnancies, in accordance with their domestic law, for anyone in the EU who still lacks access to safe and legal abortion;
- ensure that this proposal is included in both the current multiannual financial framework and the next one, so as to continue improving public health across Europe and supporting Member State action to promote access to sexual and reproductive healthcare;
- make full use of its competence in health policy and to provide support to Member States in guaranteeing universal access to SRHR under the EU4Health Programme for 2021-2027.
Lastly, Parliament reiterated its call to include the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and urged the Council to convene a Convention for the revision of the Treaties and to add sexual and reproductive healthcare and the right to safe and legal abortion to the Charter.