ONE OF US alarmed by the European Commission’s decision to fund ‘cross-border abortion’
The European Federation ONE OF US notes that no new EU fund will be created by the European Commission to finance cross-border abortion but expresses its deep concern and indignation at the European Commission’s response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) My Voice, My Choice’. For the first time, the Commission will open the possibility for an existing fund, the ESF+ (European Social Fund Plus), to finance cross-border abortion.
‘The EU treaties are being flouted,’ says Professor Tonio Borg, President of ONE OF US and former European Commissioner. Abortion does not fall within the competence of the EU. The European Commission is overstepping its own powers in an area as dramatic as abortion.”
One of Us strongly condemns the use of a European fund intended to help families living in poverty. This measure is doubly scandalous:
- Classifying abortion as a healthcare necessity and funding it under EU health instruments would be a profound misrepresentation of the nature of abortion and a misuse of funds intended to improve genuine healthcare access. Abortion is not a health policy measure in the ordinary sense of preventing or treating disease. It does not cure an illness but intentionally ends a very young human life.
- Furthermore, the ESF+ was originally designed to promote inclusion and prevent families with children from falling into poverty. Extending it to fund abortions is cynicism at its peak. It is as if the Commission were saying: “We can help with your financial struggles — here’s money to end your child’s life.” Instead of genuinely supporting families and integrating children with disabilities into society, the EU would be effectively paying for their elimination. This is a complete inversion of true human values. And, moreover, using funds for abortion means that funds to really support poor families will be reduced.
Furthermore, this decision is a ploy to avoid a European Council decision. And this mechanism will create pressure on the Member States to oblige them to finance ESF+: as contributions to the ESF+ are mandatory, all Member States will be obliged to fund abortion beyond their national legislation.
Finally, ONE OF US recalls its own European Citizens’ Initiative — “ONE OF US” — which in 2014 gathered 1.89 million signatures, calling on EU institutions to abstain from funding or otherwise supporting any activity that presupposes the destruction of human embryos. This ECI — fundamentally opposed to “My Voice, My Choice” — remains the most supported initiatives ever registered. It is a powerful reminder that millions of European citizens continue to call for the protection of life from conception.
About ONE OF US:
The European Federation ONE OF US brings together 50 NGOs from 18 European countries. Each of them provides concrete help to women and men in matters of maternity and paternity. ONE OF US protects human dignity and life from conception until natural death within EU policies, in accordance with the explicit request of 1.89 million citizens in the most successful ECI in EU history.
one-of-us.org 