There were widespread celebrations yesterday at the European Parliament as a historic motion on women’s health was overwhelmingly approved by the European Parliament. The motion was brought to the European Parliament thanks to the European Citizens Initiative which allows European citizens to propose European laws. More than one million signatures were collected to bring forward the motion to the European Parliament with the signatures collected by a wide-European feminist network called, My Voice: My Choice. Malta also participated in the initiative.
The motion, passed with 358 votes in favour and 202 votes against, calls on the EU to provide financial assistance for the compulsory and wide-introduction of medical assistance to women in the period of her pregnancy, including abortion. With the implementation of the proposal, EU-member states will not be able to deny medical care, including abortion, to women.
The motion and proposal was originally aimed to bring countries like Malta and Poland in line with modern medical practices for women where abortion is still illegal and women’s life can be at risk due to lack of abortive medical care. The motion will now go to the European Commission for legal drafting.
Maltese PN MEPs, Peter Agius and David Casa voted against the motion. Alex Agius Saliba, Labour MEP voted against but the other Labour MEPs, Thomas Bajada and Daniel Attard abstained from voting.
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