MEPs have urged remaining European Union countries to move towards decriminalising abortion, indirectly calling out Malta.

As it currently stands, Malta has one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the world and is the only country in the European Union to prohibit abortion entirely. 

Following a plenary debate on Wednesday, MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday by 364 votes in favour, 154 against and 37 abstentions reminding the United States Supreme Court that it is vital to uphold the landmark case of Roe v Wade (1973), which protects the right to abortion in the US Constitution.

Turning their attention to EU countries, MEPs urge member states to decriminalise abortion and remove and combat obstacles to safe and legal abortion and access to SRHR services, which should be guaranteed without discrimination.

They stressed that medical practitioners should not deny women access to abortion care on grounds of religion or conscience, as this can endanger the patient’s life.

Bans and other restrictions on abortion disproportionately affect women in poverty, MEPs say, stressing that women who, due to financial or logistical barriers, cannot afford to travel to reproductive health clinics in neighbouring states or countries, are at greater risk of undergoing unsafe and life-threatening procedures.

This in turn also creates a discriminatory element within the matter, as people that cannot afford to travel will not have the same opportunities available.

Women that have an abortion in Malta could face up to three years in prison, with any doctor that might assist them susceptible to facing a maximum of four years.