The S&D Group celebrates today’s strong European Parliament vote in favour of the My Voice, My Choice European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) – a movement uniting over 300 organisations and backed by 1.2 million citizens demanding safe and accessible abortion care across Europe.

With nearly 20 million women in the EU still deprived of safe and legal abortion, and several member states maintaining barriers such as criminalisation, mandatory waiting periods, lack of reimbursement and unequal access to medical or telemedicine abortion, this vote sends a powerful signal that Europe will not look away.

Following this historic mandate from citizens and Parliament, the S&D Group calls on the European Commission to urgently present a concrete legislative proposal establishing an EU financial mechanism to support member states that voluntarily provide cross-border abortion care for women travelling from restrictive EU countries.

Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, S&D shadow rapporteur and FEMM coordinator, said:

"The My Voice, My Choice initiative responds to a daily reality lived by thousands of women. Every day, women from across Europe, including from my home country, Poland, cross borders for healthcare they are denied at home – often relying on NGOs, volunteers and foreign clinics to cover the costs.

"Over 1.2 million Europeans who signed this initiative received official support from the European Parliament today. We demand that the EU turn scattered acts of solidarity into clear European policy and create a fund that ensures access to care regardless of borders, income, or nationality. We must choose an EU that protects health, equality, and freedom – an EU that leaves no woman behind.

"This is not about ideology but about health, dignity and the lives of European women. After a million citizens have spoken, it is time for the Commission to deliver."