What changed

B100557/2025

Follow up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’

European Parliament resolution on the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’

Resolution tabled pursuant to Rule 228(8) of the European Parliament's Rules of procedure

(2025/3007(RSP))

References: 2025/3007(RSP) / B10-0558/2025 / P10_TA(2025)0338

– having regard to the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion’ (ECI(2024)000004),

Date of adoption of the resolution: 17 December 2025

– having regard to Article 5 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU), and in particular to paragraph 1 thereof on the principle of subsidiarity,

Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)

– having regard to Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which concerns public health, and in particular to paragraph 7 thereof, which states that ‘Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care’,

Brief analysis/ assessment of the resolution and requests made in it:

– having regard to the programme of action adopted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo,

The resolution calls on the Commission, in line with the ‘My Voice, My Choice’ European Citizen’s initiative (ECI) proposal, 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; It calls on the Commission to 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. It calls on the Commission to ensure the proposal of the European Citizen’s Initiative is included in the current and next Multi-annual Financial Framework, to continue improving health across Europe and support Member State action in promoting sexual and reproductive healthcare.

– having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-159/90,

Response to the requests in the resolution and overview of the action taken, or intended to be taken, by the Commission:

– having regard to its resolution of 10 December 2013 on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights,

The Commission has responded to the ECI “My Voice, My Choice” in the form of a Commission Communication, adopted on 26th February 2026 in line with Regulation EU 2019/788

– having regard to Rule 228(8) of its Rules of Procedure,

In its reply, the Commission has reiterated principle 2 from its Roadmap for Women’s Rights, (“The highest standard of health: every woman has a right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health”) and that upholding and advancing this principle includes pursuing the objective of ‘protecting women’s health by supporting and complementing, in full respect of the Treaties, health action by the Member States regarding women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The Commission highlighted that Member States may, if they wish, use the ESF+ to improve equal access to legally available and affordable healthcare services, including safe abortion services. With regard to the demand to ensure the support is included in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Commission reiterates that its proposed Regulations for the next MFF are currently under negotiation between the European Parliament and the Council.

A. whereas the formulation and implementation of policies on abortion fall within the exclusive competence of the Member States, in accordance with Article 5 TEU and Article 168(7) TFEU;

1. Notes that the ‘My Voice, My Choice’ European citizens’ initiative calls for the establishment of an EU funding mechanism for abortion-related services, which would touch upon areas for which the Member States bear exclusive responsibility, and therefore raises concerns related to subsidiarity;

2. Recalls that policies on abortion and sexual and reproductive health, as well as the organisation and delivery of related medical services, are the exclusive responsibility of the Member States, in accordance with Article 168(7) TFEU;

3. Underlines that, given the clear division of competence and the current legal framework that enables each Member State to regulate these matters in accordance with its own policies, there is no need for new action or legislative proposals at EU level;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.