EU unlocks funding for safe abortion travel but it’s a long road for Maltese women

The European Commission says existing EU funds can support access to safe abortion care, including travel abroad, but with abortion illegal in Malta, any benefit for Maltese women will depend on other countries or NGOs stepping in

2 March 2026
by Laura Calleja

The European Commission has said existing EU funding programmes can be used to support access to safe abortion care, especially for women in vulnerable situations.

The clarification followed the commission’s decision not to create a new funding mechanism to expand abortion access across Europe as requested by pro-choice activists. The request was made after 1.2 million citizens from all EU countries backed the My Voice, My Choice initiative.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/140023/eu_unlocks_funding_for_safe_abortion_travel_but_its_a_long_road_for_maltese_women

02.03.2026

Commentary

Cyrus Engerer

European Commission

European Social Fund Plus

Isabel Stabile

Life Network Foundation

My Voice My Choice campaign

Labour MEP makes plea for abortion to become fundamental right in EU Charter

Cyrus Engerer calls for the introduction of abortion to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in Brussels debate that follows French constitutional enshrinement

14 March 2024
by Matthew Vella

Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer billed himself the first Maltese in Brussels to have spoken in favour of women’s full bodily autonomy, in an impassioned intervention to a debate calling for abortion to become a fundamental right in the European Charter of fundamental rights.

Engerer, who has not yet committed himself to a re-election campaign for the 2024 elections, quoted various experiences of anonymous women who had to carry out illegal abortions in Malta due to domestic violence, rape, or illness.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/ewropej/128109/labour_mep_makes_plea_for_abortion_to_become_fundamental_right_in_eu_charter

14.03.2024

News

Cyrus Engerer

Elisa Ferreira

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

European Charter of Fundamental Rights

Malta – ‘Pro-mother, pro-choice’ crowds gather in Valletta in support of abortion

Two Labour MPs lend their support as protesters gather in front of courts

September 30, 2023
Daniel Ellul

Pro-choice activists gathered in Valletta on Saturday, calling for the decriminalisation of abortion and the provision of abortion services in the healthcare system.

Holding banners reading 'pro-mother, pro-choice', the protesters chanted slogans such "not the church, not the state... women will decide their fate".

The manifestation comes two months after Malta changed its abortion laws for the first time, allowing doctors to terminate a pregnancy if a woman's life is at immediate risk or her health is in "grave jeopardy which may lead to her death".

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/promother-prochoice-crowds-gather-valletta-support-abortion.1058475

30.09.2023

News

Andrea Dibben

Cyrus Engerer

International Safe Abortion Day

Isabel Stabile

Marie Claire Gatt

pro-choice protest

prosecuting women for abortion

Randolph De Battista

Voice for Choice Coalition

Malta – From Metsola to Bill 28: how politicians got talking on abortion

It was once a taboo subject in the political arena but 2022 saw abortion making it to the parliamentary agenda as Malta was cast in the international spotlight over its draconian anti-abortion law. Maya Dimitrijevic outlines the trajectory of the abortion debate

26 December 2022
by Maya Dimitrijevic

The tone for the abortion debate in 2022 was set early when Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola signed the Simone Veil Pact just after becoming tEuropean parliament president.

The pact calls on signatories to preserve, promote and strengthen women’s rights at European, national and local level. It explicitly calls for guaranteed access to contraception and abortion.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/120443/looking_back_at_2022__from_metsola_to_bill_28_how_politicians_got_talking_on_abortion#.Y6nWPHbMK3A

Malta – Zammit Marmarà calls on Labour to take stand on abortion

By Jurgen Balzan
August 15, 2021

Calling on the Labour Party to take a clear stand on abortion, Desmond Zammit Marmarà warned the party to ward off the temptation to play the populist card.

While making his anti-abortion stance clear,
Zammit Marmarà said “I expect parties to have a clear position.”

Continued: https://newsbook.com.mt/en/zammit-marmara-calls-on-labour-to-take-stand-on-abortion/

15.08.2021

News

Cyrus Engerer

Desmond Zammit Marmarà

European Parliament

Malta Labour Party

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Malta – Labour MEP Alfred Sant calls for open debate on abortion

Cultural, behavioural norms should not override inalienable rights - former PM

June 28, 2021

Labour MEP Alfred Sant is calling for an open debate on abortion, days after he abstained from voting on a report identifying abortion as a human right.

The former prime minister warned that while the debate should respect prevalent cultural and behavioural norms, these should not override inalienable rights.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/labour-mep-alfred-sant-calls-for-open-debate-on-abortion.882721

28.06.2021