WRITTEN QUESTION P-0159/04 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission. Trial of women for illegal abortion in Portugal.
Date: 2004-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, Portugal, health legislation, illegal abortion, legal hearing, reproductive health

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/169

Measure 1.1 of the said operational programme provided appropriations for:

(cid:1) the creation of building infrastructure and the procurement of related equipment to meet the needs of

postgraduate education and vocational training within hospitals,

(cid:1) the procurement of hospital and other scientific equipment for hospitals of which the (new or

upgraded) building infrastructure was funded under the regional operational programmes,

(cid:1) the procurement of equipment for the psychiatric departments of new hospitals of which the building
infrastructure was funded under the regional operational programmes and the psychiatric units
developed in existing first degree health care centres.

According to information received from the Greek authorities, the most accurate information available
regarding the number of intensive care units in Greece is as follows. By the end of 1993 the intensive care
units of all hospitals in Greece had 789 beds. Today, the intensive care units of all hospitals in Greece have
1 360 beds. Apart from very few exceptions, all of these beds are in operation. By the end of June 2004,
the intensive care units of all hospitals in Greece will have 1 466 beds.

(2004/C 84 E/0207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0159/04

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Trial of women for illegal abortion in Portugal

In the town of Aveiro in Portugal, a trial is being held of women who have undergone termination of
pregnancy. Despite the appeals and resolutions of the European Parliament calling on the governments of
the Member States to refrain under any circumstances from prosecuting women who have had an illegal
abortion, Portugal continues to enforce its criminal legislation prohibiting abortion, which is not consistent
with the fundamental rights of women.

Given the differences in sexual and reproductive health and related rights in the EU and within the
Member States and,
in particular, the enormous disparities among Europeans in terms of access to
reproductive health services, contraception and voluntary termination of pregnancy, and in view of the fact
that women and men should be free to take their own responsible decisions about their sexual and
reproductive health and rights, what measures will the Commission take to decriminalise abortion in the
EU so that women are not brought to trial for matters relating to their physical and mental integrity?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2004)

The Honourable Member will recall from recommendation 13 of the Van Lancker report on sexual and
reproductive rights, which was adopted in July 2002 by the Parliament, that criminal law applying to
illegal abortion of national citizens is entirely a national competence of the Member States.

(2004/C 84 E/0208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0160/04

by Uma Aaltonen (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Use in the EU institutions of sniffer dogs trained to detect explosives

The security mechanisms employed in the EU institutions have failed to detect the letter bombs sent to
senior officials over the last few weeks.