EP to vote on resolution giving woman across Europe access to free abortions

The European Parliament will vote on Wednesday on a scheme enabling women from countries like Malta where abortion is banned to get the medical procedure for free.

The draft resolution calls for the setting up of a voluntary mechanism with EU financial support.

The “My Voice, My Choice” citizens’ initiative proposes a fund from the EU budget to cover procedures for people from nations with near-total bans such as Malta and Poland or places where abortion is hard to access like Italy and Croatia.

Supporters of the initiative, among them abortion rights advocates and some left- to centre-right members of the European Parliament, argue it would curb unsafe practices and assist women who cannot afford to travel abroad for the procedure.

The vote is expected shortly after midday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with analysts predicting it will pass. The European Commission will then have until March to decide whether to take up the proposal, although previous citizens’ initiatives have so far failed to gain approval.

Speaking to MaltaToday, Labour MEP Thomas Bajada said he abstained from the vote in line with a position he has consistently taken on abortion since his election, registering an abstention on all related resolutions presented.

Bajada said discussions on abortion in Malta should take place without political agendas or polarisation, and with respect for the country’s social and ethical realities.

He said he remained firmly opposed to the criminalisation of women who undergo an abortion, stressing that no woman should face prison for what is often a deeply personal and traumatic decision.

Compassion, dignity and support, particularly in cases involving health complications, should guide policy, he said. Bajada added his abstention should not be interpreted as resistance to progress or indifference, but as a balanced and principled stance that respects Malta’s sovereignty in holding a sensitive national debate, avoids the politicisation of the issue and safeguards women from criminalisation while ensuring their wellbeing.