European Union member states will be able to use existing social funds to help citizens access safe abortion services across the bloc. The move follows a campaign calling for equal access to legal terminations in all 27 member states.

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The announcement was welcomed by supporters as a major step for women’s rights. It allows countries to draw on already allocated social service funds to cover travel and access to abortion care.

The decision stems from the My Voice, My Choice campaign. Organisers argued that women in countries with near-total abortion bans, such as Malta and Poland, should be able to obtain services in other EU states where the procedure is legal.

More than 1.2 million people signed the initiative, requiring the European Commission to respond. A majority of Members of the European Parliament backed the proposal in December.

Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for equality, described the move as groundbreaking. She said it aimed to reduce the estimated 500,000 unsafe abortions that occur in Europe each year.

“This is half a million women at risk,” Lahbib said, adding that the figure was “half a million too many”.

The decision comes amid rising support for far-right parties in parts of Europe, many of which oppose abortion rights.

Olivier Bault of Ordo Iuris, a Polish anti-abortion group that supported Poland’s near-total ban in 2020, criticised the plan. He told Reuters it interfered with national authority over health policy.

He said using the European Social Fund for healthcare purposes undermined national laws.

Nika Kovač, coordinator of the My Voice, My Choice campaign, said the decision confirmed that EU funds can be used to guarantee access to safe abortion care, especially for vulnerable women.

She described the announcement as a political commitment to women’s rights. However, campaigners noted that no new funding had been allocated and said they would continue to push for dedicated financial resources.

They also called on the commission to provide clear guidance to member states on how to access the funds and to create a system to help women use the scheme across the bloc.

Manon Aubry, a French Member of the European Parliament, said campaigners would continue their efforts until no woman in Europe is unable to access abortion care.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 26 Feb 2026

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I wonder how Hadja Lahbib can estimate 500,000 unsafe abortions? Seems like a figure that is impossible to calculate.

4 hours ago, alex8912 said:

I wonder how Hadja Lahbib can estimate 500,000 unsafe abortions? Seems like a figure that is impossible to calculate.

Who cares? Abortion should be a woman's choice, no matter how many there may be.

On 2/27/2026 at 5:28 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Who cares? Abortion should be a woman's choice, no matter how many there may be.

Even when she smokes meth everyday when 6 months pregnant? Got it.

45 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Even when she smokes meth everyday when 6 months pregnant? Got it.

So, would you deny this woman an abortion she could not possibly afford? Crack baby, Mum who obviously isn't even capable of looking after herself. But she needs the affection every man is more than willing to provide.

Which costs more, to society, as well as the public purse? Are your, perhaps, suggesting eugenics?

On 2/27/2026 at 6:10 AM, alex8912 said:

I wonder how Hadja Lahbib can estimate 500,000 unsafe abortions? Seems like a figure that is impossible to calculate.

Actually pretty straightforward using a combination of hospital registry data (admissions due to post-abortion complications), surveys. There will be multiplier assumptions built in, but far from impossible to determine.

I blame Ukranians and the polish and other Slavs, illegally immigrating to the UK on surfboards, across the channel. The are illegally working as hookers, taking jobs from home grown hookers and claiming benefits for their children at the same time. Now they want free abortions, instead of doing it in the bathroom, like they do in their home countries.

3 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

I blame Ukranians and the polish and other Slavs, illegally immigrating to the UK on surfboards, across the channel. The are illegally working as hookers, taking jobs from home grown hookers and claiming benefits for their children at the same time. Now they want free abortions, instead of doing it in the bathroom, like they do in their home countries.

I give this a rating of 1 out of 100 on the attempted trolling scale.

9 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

I give this a rating of 1 out of 100 on the attempted trolling scale.

Stick him on ignore. Wish the forum would institute true Sent to Coventry settings, like other forums.

He's posting for effect.

11 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I blame Ukranians and the polish and other Slavs, illegally immigrating to the UK on surfboards, across the channel. The are illegally working as hookers, taking jobs from home grown hookers and claiming benefits for their children at the same time. Now they want free abortions, instead of doing it in the bathroom, like they do in their home countries.

Odd thing to say in a tread discussing the very same EU that the UK is no longer a member of.

EU are worse than American libs

Unborn children are precious

Nothing kind about killing them for convenience