The European Parliament Opens a Debate on Abortion

The European Parliament is launching a debate on abortion on the occasion of the European Citizens’ Initiative “My Voice My Choice.” In this context, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) co-organized a conference with the federation “One of Us” on 15 October 2025. The event was sponsored by the EPP and ECR political groups.

A former European Commissioner and eight Members of the European Parliament took the floor, along with six women who shared their personal experiences of abortion. Nicolas Bauer, Advocacy Officer at the ECLJ, spoke to call on the European Union to fully exercise its competences in supporting maternity:

Speech by Nicolas Bauer:

“My Voice My Choice” aims to “protect the right to abortion.” This petition is completely out of touch with the reality of abortion.

Ladies, you have had the courage to share your personal stories. We are deeply grateful to you. You have suffered through your abortions. They were painful experiences for you, lived in isolation. You cannot now, with this petition, say: Abortion is my voice, my choice.

Your testimonies are unique, yet they reflect a broader reality. Ninety-two percent of women say that abortion “leaves painful marks” (IFOP, 2020). To speak of abortion as a trivial choice or as a right is to deny this suffering. “My Voice My Choice” is a denial of women’s suffering. It is also a denial of the unborn child, the most innocent being there is. And this double denial deepens the psychological wounds left by abortion.

We hope, ladies, that your voices will be heard.

Your presence here places the European Parliament before a fundamental question: how can we help women avoid the difficulties you have experienced? How can we support maternity? And how can we support the family? For every unborn child also has a father, and that father must be made responsible and supported in his mission.

Some states are setting an example. I am thinking of Hungary. I am also thinking of Italy, where Giorgia Meloni has multiplied assistance for pregnant women, mothers, and families.

But the European Union also has a role to play. It is not a matter of replacing the states, but of complementing their action. The European Union has supporting and coordinating competences, and it can use them to promote maternity and the family.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union contains several rights for women and families. In Article 33, it guarantees a right for mothers to maternity leave and a right for parents to parental leave. A directive has set minimum standards for all of Europe. The purpose of this directive is explicitly stated in its preamble: “the best interests of the child,” including the right of the child to a strong bond with his or her parents.

According to the same Article 33 of the Charter, “The family shall enjoy legal, economic and social protection.”

For each article of this Charter, the European Union finances programs. One of the programs linked to Article 33 supported about one hundred poor and isolated Italian families living in rural areas. These families were overwhelmed by the demands of welcoming life and raising children. After two years of concrete support through this program, they regained the stability they needed. Some even went on to have more children.

This is only one program among hundreds of others funded by the EU. Its funding was modest, and it was discontinued four years ago. Since then, nothing has been done at the European level to support maternity and the family. Unfortunately, the European Union now chooses to invest more in other programs with ideological goals. This includes programs introducing gender theory into European families, and programs promoting abortion.

Ten years ago, nearly two million Europeans signed a petition calling for an end to programs that threaten unborn children. This was the European Citizens’ Initiative One of Us. This request was brought before this Parliament by Grégor Puppinck, Director of the ECLJ and then spokesman for One of Us. We reiterate this appeal today: we are all taxpayers, and we do not want our money to fund abortion or similar practices.

We want European public funds to be used wisely — to support maternity and the family. This is the most beneficial investment possible for Europe and its future.

Many associations within the One of Us federation, represented here today, carry out concrete actions across Europe. They lack resources, though they could become excellent partners for European programs. The European Union has the competence to support maternity and the family; we ask it today to make this a priority.