EU Policy. Meloni attempt to dilute G7 abortion declaration ires diplomats

Negotiations over the final declaration wording of the G7 summit - which will be held in Italy from today until Saturday - are underway, but members of the group of rich nations are at odds over a sidebar clause on abortion rights, sources have told Euronews.

French and Canadian delegations are pushing for an addition to the text in which leaders “affirm the importance of preserving and ensuring effective access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care”, according to a draft text seen by Euronews.

The aim of this wording is to reinforce conclusions agreed by the group last year, which vouched leaders' “full commitment to achieving comprehensive [sexual and reproductive health and rights] for all, including by addressing access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care.”

Some G7 countries such as Germany and the US would prefer to maintain the language of that declaration, signed when leaders met in Hiroshima in 2023, instead of the slightly stronger wording now proposed by France and Canada.

The most recent draft text proposed by Italy hosting this year’s G7 presidency, seen by Euronews, removed all references to abortion – instead controversially including a pro-life reference.

It suggests the leaders’ commitment “to further promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, and to advance maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, especially for those in vulnerable circumstances.”

It is “very regrettable that the language on abortion was weakened,” one source working on the text told Euronews.

“The right to abortion is non-negotiable. It’s G7’s duty to show leadership in promoting such values, not backtracking on them,” a diplomat told Euronews on condition of anonymity.

Meloni’s