A Maltese MEP has collected over 150 signatures from Lords, MEPs and MPs from across the UK and Europe in support of Malta’s new abortion law.

With a list including UK Lords, French and German MPs and dozens of MEPs from across the EU, Cyrus Engerer publicly showed his support as abortion legalisation under certain conditions finds itself being discussed in Maltese Parliament.

“I could not stand idle when I saw the letter penned this weekend by three conservative UK Parliamentarians and some others from the House of Lords, who encouraged the Maltese Parliament to reject the amendments in Parliament,” Engerer said.

“I therefore asked my friends in the European Parliament to support the Maltese Government’s decision to give legal certainty to medical practitioners to do all possible to save lives. I asked for 105 signatures and I am glad we managed to get a larger amount in just 10 hours not only from the European Parliament but also 14 different national Parliaments in Member States including British members of the House of Lords,” he continued.

Engerer obtained the signatures of 108 Members of the European Parliament and 57 members of national Parliaments and Senates in a letter declaring their support for the Maltese Government’s decision to introduce legislative amendments into the Maltese criminal code which would allow medical terminations for life-saving or healthcare reasons.

The letter, which is addressed to Prime Minister Robert Abela, also included multiple signatories from national parliaments across the European Union, who signed the letter of support.

The signatories said that “by amending legislation to ensure that women who must endure life-saving terminations are not prosecuted, Malta is taking a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting the fundamental rights of women, and medical practitioners”.

“This is an important step in Malta and Europe’s history, which will have great and lasting positive effects on Maltese women, Europe and the world”, they continued while highlighting that women must be protected when their life is endangered.