Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-05-13-Speech-2-202"
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"en.20030513.10.2-202"2
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". – The Commission’s policy on abortion is clear. We adhere to the Programme for Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994. Chapter 8.25 of the Programme for Action states that ‘In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning. All governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations are urged to strengthen their commitment to women’s health, to deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern and to reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family planning services.’
In January this year I wrote to the European Parliament in response to a letter from 47 MEPs on the issue of abortion. In this letter, which is available on my website, I stressed that we aim to prevent the need for abortion, through our support for reproductive health programmes. However, we recognise that unsafe abortion is a reality that causes the unnecessary deaths of many women each year. The Commission regards national legislation as paramount when it comes to the question of abortion services within the formal health service. Furthermore, in countries where abortion is legal for given indications, it should be safe.
The Community’s programmes and actions in the field of reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries aim to reduce maternal mortality and contribute to achieving the respective Millennium Development Goal. The stakes are high, maternal mortality rates have remained unchanged and are even on the increase in countries such as Malawi and Afghanistan. I would prefer Community aid in the areas of reproductive and sexual health to be judged on whether it delivers in reducing the unnecessary deaths of women in developing countries. This is what I find most important."@en1
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