Call for entrenchment of anti-abortion constitutional provision

The European Movement has written to the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and the chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika proposing the entrenchment of an amendment in the Maltese Constitution on the illegality of abortion.

In a letter addressed to the political leaders personally, the movement urged Eddie Fenech Adami, Alfred Sant and Harry Vassallo to accept that such an amendment to the constitution would serve as a safeguard that abortion would not be legalised in Malta.

The movement says in its letter that it is proposing this amendment in "the light of the strong consensus against abortion that has been manifested publicly by such a broad majority" as a reaction to the non-binding resolution adopted by the European Parliament last month.

The letter says the movement is convinced that "You will encounter no difficulty of a political nature in agreeing to our proposal".

In the letter, signed by European Movement chairman Roderick Pace, the movement notes the strong Maltese reaction to the European Parliament resolution which, among other matters urges all EU member states and applicant countries to legalise abortion, and said it was pleased by the consensus that emerged that the right to abortion should not be legalised in Malta.

The European Movement tells the political leaders it regrets that once again an issue of such importance is being used to attack Malta's EU membership bid, despite the fact that the European Parliamentary resolution has no legal standing.

The movement notes with satisfaction the efforts of Michael Frendo, MP at the Convention on the Future of Europe, who has sought the additional safeguard that a future European constitution must leave the question of the legalisation of abortion entirely in the hands of the member state concerned.

Last month the European Parliament urged EU member states and candidates to give women safe access to abortion.

In the non-binding resolution, the European Parliament said that "abortion should be made legal, safe and accessible to all."

The European bishops' conference had immediately expressed its "regret" at the parliament's adoption of the report on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The European Parliament resolution says that no woman should be prosecuted for having an illegal abortion and calls for easy access to contraception and sexual education.

Maltese bishops had expressed concern over the resolution.

However, the government had immediately clarified that the EU had no right or competence to impose a position in favour of abortion on its members, and stressed that the resolutions issued by the European Parliament were not legally binding on member states.