WRITTEN QUESTION E-0431/01

by Bastiaan Belder (EDD) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Letter of 26 January 2001 from Minister Herfkens of the Netherlands to Commissioner Nielson with a request for funding for development programmes concerned with abortion

Is the Commission of the opinion that this is a serious ethical decision and that no reply can be given to Minister Herfkens' request for European funding to offset the American change of policy on development programmes concerned with abortion until Parliament and the Council have been consulted?

Does the Commission agree that Mr Herfkens' request comes at an awkward moment now that the Commission is reassessing European development policy? To what extent does the Commission think that this request for aid is in line with Europe's priorities for development policy?

To what extent is it Europe's responsibility to fill the breach caused by changes in the development policy of other countries? What impact does this way of operating have on the coherence of policy?

What is the Commission's attitude in general towards the implementation of development programmes in which activities are financed in areas which are ethically sensitive in donor countries and/or in recipient countries?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Reproductive health is a priority area of Community development policy with consensus reached through a series of major development conferences over recent years including Cairo, Beijing and Copenhagen. The ability of men and women to make a free and informed choice about the number and spacing of their children; access to good quality family planning and sexual health services; access to skilled care during birth; these are all fundamental rights that the Community should support without question.

The Community does not promote abortion as a means of family planning. The Commission neither supports nor condones any organisation promoting abortion. Its support aims to prevent the need for abortion. Yet abortion is a reality in the lives of 50 million women every year; it is commonly performed illegally under unsafe conditions and causes untold suffering and kills an estimated 80 000 women each year. Where abortion is not against the law it should be made safe and accessible and women should have access to quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion.

The Commission would prefer that the Community did not need to fill any breach caused by changes in development policy in another country. Its partners in developing countries need consistency in external policy and support. The Commission would prefer that all developed countries contribute their fair share of development finance.

The Commission needs more information on the impact of the recent United States decision on reproductive health programming in poor countries and on the organisations which will be most affected. Early indications suggest that the cuts may reduce support to sexual and reproductive health programmes in many countries. Ultimately that can only lead to more unwanted pregnancies, more abortions and maternal deaths, more cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), more poverty and misery.

The Commission shares the views of the Presidency and Member State Ministers on this subject and has no reservation in meeting, any shortfalls in such a vital area. To that end the Commission is preparing a proposal for a Community reproductive rights programme.