The European parliament has overwhelmingly demanded abortion rights be enshrined in the EU’s charter of fundamental rights, while also condemning the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States.
On Thursday, 324 members of the European parliament voted in favour of a resolution calling for the right to a safe and legal abortion to be safeguarded in Europe. 155 members voted against the resolution, while 38 abstained from voting.
In the adopted resolution, European MEPs expressed solidarity with those impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion in the United States.
“MEPs express their solidarity with and support for women and girls in the US, as well as to those involved in both providing and advocating for the right and access to legal and safe abortion care in such challenging circumstances,” a statement from the parliament reads.
“Given this, they call for the US Congress to pass a bill that would protect abortion at federal level.”
The resolution also said that EU countries should guarantee access to safe, legal and free abortion services, pre-natal and maternal healthcare services, voluntary family planning, youth-friendly services, and to HIV prevention, treatment and support.
It also said the European Commission and member states should enhance political support for healthcare providers and human rights defenders, in the wake of Roe v Wade being overturned.
“They are also concerned about a possible surge in funding for anti-gender and anti-choice groups in the world, including in Europe,” the statement said.
“They urge member states to decriminalise abortion, and to remove and combat the remaining legal, financial, social and practical restrictions still hampering access in some member states.”
In Europe, each nation determines its laws on abortion. It tends to be legal and practiced safely in most nations – although there are still heavy restrictions in nations like Poland and it is completely banned in Malta.