Center for Reproductive Rights calls for urgent steps to operationalise the Commission proposal and ensure the pathway provides sufficient legal certainty and clarity for women and Member States

BRUSSELS, 26.2.2026—Today, in its response to the My Voice, My Choice European Citizens’ Initiative, the European Commission proposed that existing EU funding instruments may now be mobilised to support access to abortion services across the EU. The Commission’s proposal recognises EU competence to support Member State action on reproductive care and sets out a pathway through which financial support may be provided. Importantly, the proposal clarifies for the first time that current EU funds may be used to address barriers in access to abortion care within the EU. 

However the Commission proposal stopped short of establishing a new, dedicated legislative instrument to provide for a new dedicated funding stream. Instead it stated that existing funding mechanisms provide a pathway to give effect to the ECI.

“It is imperative that the Commission now act quickly to adopt clear operational guidelines to provide women and Member States with legal certainty and clarity.” said Katrine Thomasen, Associate Director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The Commission has opened a potential pathway to concrete financial support through existing EU instruments. The question now is whether this approach will deliver the scale and certainty of support needed by women who need essential health care and the member states who wish to help them. We will continue working to ensure this proposed pathway translates into tangible access to care for women across Europe.”

Women in several Member States continue to face significant barriers to accessing abortion care in their home countries, with many forced to travel to other EU countries to obtain essential services. These barriers have grave consequences for their health and wellbeing, and in recent years several women have died in some member states after being denied timely access to abortion.

The Commission’s decision creates an opportunity for concrete European support to respond to this reality. Whether this translates into meaningful improvements for women will depend on political will to ensure effective implementation and operationalisation.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

Mihela Kralj, Senior Communications Manager for Europe, Center for Reproductive Rights: [email protected]