Anti-abortion campaign in Hungary funded by the EU
31.5.2011
Question for oral answer O-000139/2011
to the Commission
Rule 115
Britta Thomsen, Marc Tarabella, Michael Cashman, Sylvie Guillaume
on behalf of the S&D Group
Eva-Britt Svensson
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
Marije Cornelissen, Raül Romeva i Rueda
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
On 18 April 2011, Hungary adopted a new Constitution that protects human life from the moment of conception, marking a first step in a gradual questioning of the right of women to have an abortion in Hungary. The current law on abortion allows an abortion up to the 12th week. Although the ruling party has repeatedly said that a ban on abortion was not an option, non-governmental organisations, such as the Hungarian Civil Liberties’ Union, have said that the new Constitution opens the way for a future change of the law.
The government recently went a step further by launching a national campaign called ‘Balance in the family + balance at work = balance in the world’. One of the advertisements supporting this campaign shows a foetus saying ‘I understand if you are not ready for me… but rather put me up for adoption. LET ME LIVE’. The advertisement adds that ‘every year in Hungary thousands of children are victims of abortion’.
The European Union flag is on this advertisement as well as a reference to the EU’s PROGRESS programme for social inclusion. The Hungarian government has also declared in an official statement that the awareness-raising campaigns are funded by PROGRESS. The European Union is hence officially linked to this campaign, giving citizens the impression that the European Union supports anti-abortion movements.
Is the Commission aware of the fact that the PROGRESS funds are being used to finance an anti-abortion campaign? If so, can the Commission explain under which heading this grant is given and why it decided to give the grant? Will the Commission take steps to prevent such use of PROGRESS funds in the future?
Tabled: 31.5.2011
Forwarded: 2.6.2011
Deadline for reply: 9.6.2011