European Parliament
Liberals and Greens for abortion as a fundamental EU right
Women’s right to physical self-determination should not depend on political majorities, says Terry Reintke. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
In France, a large majority voted to enshrine the right to abortion in the country’s constitution. Would that also be something for the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?
After French President Emmanuel Macron, the Liberals and Greens have also joined forces The European Parliament voted to include the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. “The right to a safe abortion belongs as a fundamental right in the EU Charter,” said Green Party leader Terry Reintke to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). Women’s right to physical self-determination should not depend on political majorities, she said.
The leader of the Liberals, Renew parliamentary group leader Valérie Hayer, also told the RND that she supported Macron’s move: “While the radical right is working hard to find new ways to push through its reactionary agenda, we must in a truly liberal society stand up for women’s rights more resolutely than ever: The right to abortion must be anchored in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, because we must never leave women’s rights to the populists.”
Macron said on Friday that the freedom to have an abortion should be included in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Previously, on Monday, the two French parliamentary chambers voted by a large majority to enshrine the right to abortion in the country’s constitution. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is binding for all states in the European Union except Poland.