Submission and examination
The 'My Voice, My Choice: For Safe And Accessible Abortion' initiative was submitted to the European Commission on 1 September 2025, after having gathered 1,124,513 verified statements of support. See European Commission news.
On 1 October 2025, the initiative organisers presented the objectives of their initiative in a meeting with Commissioner Lahbib and European Commission officials, in line with Article 15 of the ECI Regulation. See the photo news.
The presentation of this initiative in a public hearing at the European Parliament took place on 2 December 2025. The organisers were invited to provide details about their objectives. The Members of the European Parliament exchanged views on this initiative. See the public hearing page.
The initiative was debated at the European Parliament’s plenary session on 16 December 2025. In the resolution adopted on 17 December 2025, the European Parliament expressed support for the initiative. See European Parliament’s press release.
The Commission adopted a Communication on 26 February 2026 setting out its response to this initiative. See the Commission's press release and Remarks by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu and Commissioner Lahbib on the Commission's reply.
Answer of the European Commission
Main conclusions of the Communication.
Having carefully analysed the initiative and with regard to the EU Treaties' limitations to EU competence in the area of public health, the Commission underlines that Member States can rely on existing EU instruments to improve equal access to legally available and affordable healthcare services, including safe abortion services.
This EU support can be provided through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) programme, in case Member States wish, voluntarily and in accordance with their national laws, to provide such support, notably by using or reallocating available resources under their ESF+ programmes. The ESF+ could be used to enhance access to legally available, affordable and safe abortion services for pregnant women. The ESF+ can support the efforts of these Member States, while granting them autonomy to determine how and under what conditions access to safe and legal abortion will be provided.
As EU support can already be provided relatively quickly by Member States willing to do so under existing instruments, it is not necessary to propose a new legal instrument.
