On December 2nd, the European Parliament held the official hearing of the European Citizens’
Initiative (ECI) “My Voice, My Choice” (MVMC), which proposes the creation of an EU-funded
abortion tourism. Organised jointly by the FEMM, PETI, LIBE, SANT and DEVE Committees, the
hearing gathered MEPs from several political groups and Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. As the
promoters presented their initiative, many MEPs raised substantial legal, ethical, and social concerns
about the proposal.
From the outset, MEPs recalled that the strongest European Citizens’ Initiative in EU history is ONE OF
US, as highlighted by MEP Paolo Inselvini (ECR, Italy), who noted that “no other initiative has mobilised
citizens as powerfully as ONE OF US.” Then, throughout the hearing, MEPs emphasised the initiative’s
incompatibility with the EU Treaties. Luxembourgish MEP Fernand Kartheiser reminded that “the EU
Treaties uphold the right to life”, warning that “if the European Commission were to follow up on “My
Voice My Choice”, it would directly violate EU law.”
Croatian EPP MEP Tomislav Sokol added that
abortion “is not a human right”, noting that “no international treaty recognises abortion as a right,
therefore it cannot be funded by the European Union.” Their interventions underscored that shifting
abortion into EU competences would directly undermine the principle of subsidiarity and disregard
Member States’ sovereign authority in sensitive ethical matters.
Several MEPs stressed that the MVMC proposal risks creating a mechanism that pressures Member
States whose laws protect unborn life or provide strong maternity policies. Slovenian EPP MEP Matej
Tonin as well as Slovakian MEP Miriam Lexmann both warned that “any EU-level financial mechanism must not undermine Member States”, insisting that “subsidiarity is a safeguard for democratic self-
determination.” French ECR MEP Laurence Trochu similarly stated that the ECI’s demand for EU-
funded abortion tourism “clearly exceeds EU competences and violates the Member States’ sovereign authority.”
Concerns were also raised regarding the motivations and financing behind the MVMC campaign. Italian
ECR MEP Paolo Inselvini reminded that “abortion has to remain a national competence” and
questioned whether the initiative genuinely reflects citizens’ will or “if it is coming from elsewhere.”
Spanish PfE MEP Margarita de la Pisa added that the MVMC initiative “is financed by organisations
that make money from the business of abortion, such as Planned Parenthood”, while recalling that
“women’s rights also include the protection of maternity.” She urged the organisers “not to attack
those who support motherhood.”
Building on these concerns, EPP MEP Peter Agius from Malta raised pressing issues of rule of law and
democracy, asking: “How could we explain to the Maltese people that their will would be circumvented
by the EU?” Likewise, Polish MEP Mirosława Nykiel, who shares MVMC’s views on abortion, criticised
the initiative’s lack of financial transparency. She also condemned MVMC’s portrayal of EPP MEPs as extremists simply for not aligning with its positions, as well as the pressure placed on MEPs to withhold
dissenting opinions.
ONE OF US recalls that the MVMC proposal would not only undermine the EU treaties and the right to
life but would also facilitate disability-selective abortion across borders, reinforcing eugenic practices
and contradicting Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which prohibits discrimination
on the grounds of disability. These concerns are real if the EU would inadvertently create mechanisms
that deepen inequalities and harm the most vulnerable.
Women across Europe are increasingly asking for better maternity support, not for EU-funded
abortion mechanisms. Genuine women’s rights require concrete social measures—financial support,
medical care, childcare structures, and workplace protection—rather than encouraging the export of
abortion across borders.
ONE OF US’ President, Pr Tonio Borg, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to defending EU law
and democratic principles. He stated: “Today’s hearing was marked by strong ideological claims, but
ideology can never override the EU Treaties. The European Commission must respect the limits of EU
competences. The Treaties are clear: matters of life lie with the Member States, not Brussels.”
ONE OF US therefore calls on European institutions to firmly reject the proposals put forward by the
“My Voice, My Choice” initiative, to uphold the Treaties, protect the principle of subsidiarity, and
respect the democratic authority of Member States. The EU must prioritise policies that provide real
support to women during pregnancy, protect persons with disabilities, and defend human dignity at
every stage of life.
ONE OF US, as the most supported European Citizens’ Initiative in the history of the European Union,
urges the institutions to honour the will of its 1.89 million signatories by promoting authentic women’s
rights, safeguarding national sovereignty, and ensuring that EU decision-making is guided by law—not
ideology.
