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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Press Remarks by Commissioner Lahbib for the European Citizens' Initiative ‘My Voice, My Choice' Brussels, 26 February 2026 Today I am proud to stand before you for something truly important. This is one of our key equality priorities for this mandate. It will be part of our legacy. Above all, it will save lives. This was made possible thanks to the citizens' init...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Press Remarks by Commissioner Lahbib for the European Citizens' Initiative ‘My Voice, My Choice' Brussels, 26 February 2026 Today I am proud to stand before you for something truly important. This is one of our key equality priorities for this mandate. It will be part of our legacy. Above all, it will save lives. This was made possible thanks to the citizens' initiative My Voice, My Choice . I want to warmly thank the organisers. They did an amazing job. They have shown that citizen participation works and that democracy delivers. For months, they built support across Europe around one clear goal: safe abortion for every woman in our Union. I remember it like it was yesterday. The organisers came to my office with a box full of signatures. Their message was clear and smart. Their request was for access to safe abortion for every woman in Europe, no matter where she lives, no matter how much money she has. It was also a smart request because they respected the Treaties. They understood that health policy is a national competence and that the European Commission has limited room to act. But we can support Member States and accompany them towards a more equal Europe. The organisers asked us to support Member States that, voluntarily and in solidarity, want to offer access to safe and legal abortion under their national laws, including to women from other Member States who otherwise could not access or afford it. We worked hard to provide an answer that is just as clear and smart. From now on, we are granting Member States the possibility to use EU funding, through the European Social Fund, to improve access to abortion. This means support for women who need to travel, for women seeking care in their own country, for women in remote areas, and support for women without financial means. In practice, it means better access to safe abortion care for vulnerable woman anywhere in Europe. This is groundbreaking. We are putting the tools on the table. Now it is up to Member States to use them. We are ready to support them in accessing these funds. The European Social Fund Plus is a shared management fund. Both the Commission and the Member States are involved. EU funding is made available to improve access to affordable abortion, while Member States ensure that the funds reach women seeking safe and accessible abortion. I would like to thank everyone who supported this Initiative, in particular the European Parliament for its clear backing, and my fellow Commissioners for the constructive discussions that led to this strong and respectful outcome. This decision will change lives. Thank you again to the organisers. We have walked this road together, and we will continue to stand by their side. It has been a long journey, but it is not the end of the story. Now we must ensure that Member States are fully aware of these tools. At least ten have already expressed support for this initiative. We must stay united and continue working together for the women of Europe. This is urgent. Nearly half a million unsafe abortions take place in Europe every year. That is half a million women at risk. Half a million women traumatised. Half a million women facing potentially lifelong consequences. That is half a million too many. This is not the Europe we want for our women and girls. We live in a time when women's bodies have become political battlefields, when rights are being rolled back around the world. But Europe stands firm. Next week, we will present our new Gender Equality Strategy for the next five years. It will strengthen women's health and rights across Europe, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights. This is the Europe we believe in. Today, My Voice, My Choice wanted action. Europe has acted, and we will continue to act. Stay tuned. The next step is our Gender Equality Strategy. SPEECH/26/493
Speech Brief