The "My Voice, My Choice" initiative, for safe and accessible abortion in Europe, has been approved by the European Parliament. This is not legally binding. ---- The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) procedure is marketed as the possibility of influencing European legislation by obtaining one million signatures from seven different countries. But this is a deception: if a text reaches one million signatures, the European Commission must decide on an action to take, which will not necessarily be a change in legislation.
The initiative we are interested in is called "My Voice, My Choice." It is a call for a voluntary solidarity mechanism, financed by the European Union (EU), for abortion care for women who do not have safe and legal access to it in their country of residence. This means, according to the initiative, that money would be voluntarily donated by states (and the European Union) "to member states that would be able to provide abortions to anyone in Europe who still does not have access to safe and legal abortion." It gathered 1.2 million signatures between April 2024 and April 2025.
During the public hearing at the European Parliament in mid-December, MEPs approved the initiative with 358 votes in favor, 202 against, and 79 abstentions. In other words, they are asking the European Commission to create this financial mechanism.
The text[1]cites all the conventions and resolutions of the European Parliament on abortion (including the 2024 resolution calling for the inclusion of the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights), demonstrating the number of existing measures that are already insufficiently implemented. Of the twenty "whereas" clauses-accepted principles recalled at the beginning of the texts-that follow, two deserve particular attention. One explains: "whereas[...]the majority of women who have abortions already have children, are married or in a stable relationship, or have used contraception," dangerously echoing the discourse on the "abuse" of abortion. The other states: "whereas only biological women can become pregnant and have children." Fortunately, no position is taken as a consequence of this point, just a little transphobic reminder for the sake of it? Or a sign of an EU giving in to the far right?
Finally, the core of the text states: "[The European Parliament]invites the Commission, as proposed by the ECI "My Voice, My Choice," to establish a solidarity mechanism, open to the participation of willing Member States and with financial support from the Union, without interference in national laws and regulations; "The Commission is urged to submit a proposal to provide financial support to Member States that offer safe abortion, in accordance with their national law, to any person residing in the Union who still does not have access to a safe and legal abortion."
After nearly two years of this European Citizens' Initiative, we are now awaiting the European Commission's response, which should detail what will (or will not) be implemented in practice.
To pass the time, we can read the interview[2]with feminist activist Consuelo Catalá and copy this quote: "Abortion is an absolute act of defiance against the overriding mandate of patriarchal society."»
Christine (UCL Sarthe)
Submit
[1]"My Voice, My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion," European Parliament resolution, 17 December 2025.
[2]Consuelo Catala, "Abortion is an absolute act of defiance against the overriding mandate of patriarchal society," Medfeminiswiya, 2 January 2026.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Avortement-En-Europe-bientot-des-sous-pour-avorter-dans-un-autre-pays
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