EU proposal would ease cross-border abortion access for women facing bans
Global News
The European Union's parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of the 'My Voice, My Choice' citizens' initiative, which will be considered by the European Commission in March.
The European Union’s parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of a scheme that would enable women from nations restricting abortion to terminate pregnancies in another member state free of charge.
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.
While the trend in Europe has been towards more accessibility for abortions, with the UK decriminalizing it and France making it a constitutional freedom, there has been a surge in popular support for far-right parties, many of which oppose abortion.
After the parliament vote of 358 for and 202 against, the European Commission is to decide in March whether to adopt the proposal, though other citizens’ initiatives have not been entirely successful.
Proponents of the initiative, including abortion rights campaigners and some members of parliament (MEPs) from the left to center-right, say it should reduce unsafe practices and help women who lack funds for a procedure abroad.
Critics, including far-right and some center-right MEPs, say the proposal interferes in national laws and traditional Christian values.
Under the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) mechanism launched in 2012, the parliamentary vote is advisory only but can influence the Commission decision.
“Today we show the world, but above all our citizens, that the EU stands by women. The EU stands for gender equality, and the EU is not afraid to fulfill all human rights, also women’s human rights,” Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani of the centrist Renew Europe group told reporters in Strasbourg.
At least 11 people were shot and killed on Sunday during a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Australian authorities said, declaring it a terrorist attack.
The victim was walking about 200 metres ahead of a friend near an area known as the '560-meter rocky peak,' when the friend heard a cry for help.
Thomas Plamberger and his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, were attempting to scale Austria's tallest mountain in the middle of winter, despite her inexperience.
The Canadian economy achieved a trade surplus for the first time since the trade war began, as exports rebounded and imports fell in September, according to Statistics Canada.
The development has frustrated deportations of foreign nationals accused of fuelling B.C.'s extortion boom.
The NHL says if the ice rinks for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics aren't to standards by game time, its players will not be attending the games.
Sixty-seven fertility clinics used the donor's sperm in 14 different countries.
The CBSA was responding to an officer who said the agency abandoned him amid an Indian disinformation campaign.
Trump's interview with Politico focused in part on a new national security strategy that sharply criticizes European allies and warns against NATO expansion.
Zelenskyy continued shoring up European support for Ukraine's position in peace negotiations, meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome and Pope Leo outside the city.
First established in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine has been used to justify American dominance and influence over the western hemisphere, particularly in Latin America.
To become the world's youngest rated player, Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha beat multiple players in their 20s.
U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts to end the nearly-four-year-old war have run into sharply conflicting demands by Russia and Ukraine.