“My Voice, My Choice”, a European citizens’ initiative advocating universal access to safe and legal abortion has exceeded one million signatures, now requiring the European Commission to make a stand, Euronews reports.
The campaign, spearheaded by Slovenia’s 8th of March Institute, hit the 1 million mark surpassing the mandatory thresholds in 15 member states – more than twice the minimum of seven required for EU action.
“This achievement proves that the right to decide about childbirth is a shared value across Europe,” said campaign coordinator Nika Kovač in a statement.
Through the initiative, campaigners are calling on the European Commission to introduce policies guaranteeing safe abortion services for all EU citizens regardless of their nationality or residence.
The Commission will now be required to issue a formal response and consider next steps.
While abortion rights remain a divisive topic within EU institutions, earlier this year the European Parliament symbolically voted to include abortion access in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, such a move would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, an unlikely outcome given current divisions.
Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who now oversees reproductive health policy, called the lack of equal abortion access across the EU unacceptable, stating that it deepens inequalities among member states. The campaign highlights growing pressure on European institutions to address disparities in reproductive health access across the bloc.
In relevant news, a federal judge in Texas has blocked a Biden administration privacy rule for women seeking abortions.
