EU states told to use existing fund for safe abortions after citizens' petition

Following a citizens' initiative with over a million signatures, the European Commission has advised EU member states to utilize the existing European Social Fund Plus to finance safe abortions. This decision aims to address the nearly 500,000 unsafe abortions occurring annually in Europe, according to European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib. While abortion legality varies across the EU, with some countries like Malta and Poland having near-total bans, this guidance allows member states to decide how to allocate funds for women needing access to safe terminations, including travel and accommodation. Campaigners from the My Voice, My Choice initiative hailed the move as a victory, while anti-abortion groups criticized it as conflicting with Christian values. The Commission clarified that the fund had not previously been used for safe abortions, but is readily available.

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