On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the European Parliament adopted one of its most high-profile political resolutions in recent years in support of access to safe abortions, following a tense and emotionally charged debate that laid bare deep ideological divisions.

The non-binding resolution passed with 358 votes in favor, 202 against and 79 abstentions, triggering jubilant and angry reactions across the chamber. Lawmakers hugged, applauded or shouted slogans, as scenes of celebration and protest unfolded side by side. Footage from the vote showed many younger male MEPs standing to applaud, while several older colleagues remained seated, silent and visibly uneasy.

The vote was driven by the European Citizens’ Initiative “My Voice, My Choice,” launched in 2024, which gathered more than 1.2 million verified signatures from across the EU. Under the initiative’s rules, citizens who collect at least one million signatures from seven member states can compel the European Commission to respond and clarify whether it intends to act.

The initiative calls on the Commission to create a voluntary, EU-funded mechanism to financially support member states that choose to provide safe abortion services to women who currently lack access. Its primary aim is to help women forced to travel abroad to obtain a legal abortion.

While Wednesday’s vote carries no immediate legal consequences, Parliament urged EU institutions and national governments to address the issue, particularly in countries with strict restrictions.

References were made to states such as Malta and Croatia. “We heard stories of families who lost mothers, of women in Malta still facing prison for abortion, and of women from Italy and Croatia forced to cross borders for care,” said initiative founder Nika Kovač ahead of the vote. She described the proposed funding as minimal, even symbolic, compared with EU budgets.

Despite strong backing in Parliament and in the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, opposition remains. Conservative critics argue the proposal risks infringing on national sovereignty, stressing that healthcare policy remains the responsibility of member states.