The right to choose: EU lawmakers vote to protect abortion right after Roe v Wade overturned in US

In the European Union, abortion is currently available without conditions in 24 of the 27 member states. In Finland, a list of conditions applies, while in Poland abortion is only permitted in cases of rape – which the woman must ‘prove’ – or the woman’s life being in danger. In Malta, abortion is illegal in all circumstances, though in reality the proportion of Maltese women who do terminate pregnancies each year matches the EU average.

Almost immediately after the US Supreme Court’s majority decision to overturn Roe vs Wade, French lawmakers moved to inscribe the right to abortion in France’s Constitution.

Then, in early July, a majority of members of the European Parliament voted in favour of including the right in the European Union’s “Charter of Fundamental Rights” – a legally binding text.

But it was far from a unanimous result: 324 MEPs were in favour, 155 against, 38 formally abstained, and 188 did not participate in the vote.

In our programme, we examine the current state of abortion access in the European Union, and debate how the situation could evolve from here.

Produced by Isabelle Romero, Luke Brown and Perrine Desplats

The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.

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