Just over half the Members of the European Parliament, including 12 out of 13 Irish MEPs, in a non-binding vote, called for a ‘right’ to abortion to be inserted into the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Criticising the motion, Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel for ADF International in Brussels, said it goes so far as “to denounce medical doctors in Italy, Slovakia and Romania who object to performing abortions – in clear violation of their right to freedom of conscience, and in deliberate ignorance of their researched medical judgement”.

“The European Union is not called to change abortion policies internationally, nor inside member states, and in reality, a non-binding resolution like this has no power to amend the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights”, she said.

“Poland, where mothers and babies are widely protected in law, has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world. Malta, similarly, has seen zero maternal deaths from any cause in the last ten years. Hungary has implemented wide-ranging policies to better support and empower parents to raise their children. Instead of promoting a procedure which ends the lives of children and can cause harm to women, Europe should empower mothers, protect babies, and support families to thrive.”