Thursday's Commission response to a so-called citizens' initiative is dressed up in beautiful words about strengthening women's health and safety.
According to Gender Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, it is downright "groundbreaking" that it is now being pointed out that there is money in an EU fund, ESF+, that countries can use.
"We are placing the tools on the table: now it is up to the member states to use them," Lahbib said at a brief press conference in Brussels.
Don't need anything new
The citizens' initiative "My voice, my choice" has collected more than 1.1 million signatures to push for a new EU mechanism. It seeks financial support for those who want to have an abortion but are hindered by strict national laws in countries such as Poland and Malta.
However, with reference to the ESF+, the European Commission believes there is no need to come up with anything new.
"Since EU support can already be provided relatively quickly by the Member States that wish to do so, it is not necessary to propose any new instruments," the Commission said in a press release.
"Writing history"
Al-Sahlani is nevertheless very happy, as she has been strongly involved in the European Parliament's handling of the issue.
"We are making European history. This is the first time that the European Commission has clearly stated that abortion rights are not a cultural issue, not a religious issue, not an ideological battle - this is part of healthcare. It changes the playing field," she told TT.
She now hopes that Sweden and other countries that have promised to use EU support will actually do so.
"Now it is really up to the Swedish government to deliver on its promise, as expressed in a letter to the Commission, to offer women in the EU who want to terminate an unwanted pregnancy the care they need in Sweden," Al-Sahlani said.
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