COMECE on the “ethical indefensibility” of an EU fundamental right to abortion

In the context of the public debate on including a supposed right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, COMECE publishes the statement ‘The Ethical Indefensibility of an EU Fundamental Right to Abortion’ elaborated by its Commission on Ethics.

The document argues that the respect for the inalienable dignity of every human being in every stage of life – especially in situations of complete vulnerability – is a fundamental principle in our democratic societies.

H.E. Mgr. Anton Jamnik, President of the COMECE Commission on Ethics, states that “EU Member States have very different constitutional traditions with regard to the legal regulation of abortion, therefore, constituting a fundamental right to abortion would go against the general principles of the Union law”. The document also reiterates that “there is no recognised right to abortion in European or International law”.

At the beginning of 2022, COMECE expressed its deep concern over President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal of including a supposed right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

In July 2022, reacting to a resolution of the European Parliament, COMECE released a statement encouraging political leaders “to work for more unity among Europeans, not to create higher ideological barriers and polarization”.

Statement Ethics Commission Abortion 18-7-2023Download