MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of the State Law related to abortion in Texas

5.10.2021 - (2021/2910(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Angel Dzhambazki, Alexandr Vondra, Elżbieta Rafalska, Ryszard Czarnecki, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Bogdan Rzońca, Hermann Tertsch, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Adam Bielan, Bert‑Jan Ruissen, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Emmanouil Fragkos, Valdemar Tomaševski, Ladislav Ilčić
on behalf of the ECR Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0499/2021

European Parliament resolution on the case of the State Law related to abortion in Texas

(2021/2910(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, which states in Article 3 that ‘everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person’

 

-  having regard Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which states that Union action ‘shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care’

 

-  having regard to the Constitution of the United States of America,

 

-  having regard to the state legislature of the US state of Texas,

 

-  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

a)  whereas abortion is not a universal human right and is currently not in any binding treaty of any international law;

 

b)  whereas the formulation and implementation of policies relating to sexual health, reproduction and abortion  as outlined in the Treaties falls exclusively with the competences of the Member States and cannot be imposed neither on any Member of the Union nor any other state outside;

 

c)  whereas the motivation to interfere into the internal  U.S. legislation Texas Heartbeat Act  is reprehensible and should be completely rejected;

 

d)  whereas it should be noted with concern that attempts of EU’s institutions to ideologize policies and politicize issues beyond their remit stand to lose political capital, institutional credibility and are likely to divide societies and harm relations with strategic partners;

 

e)  whereas the Texas Heartbeat Act was co-authored by 11 female state legislators, debated by all 181 members of the Texas legislature, and signed into law by the Texas governor;

 

f)  whereas the US Justice Department sued Texas over the Texas Heartbeat Act, a week after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the law, putting the state law under appeal;

 

g)  whereas the protection of life, including unborn life, has been welcomed by many citizens throughout Europe and is widely supported by many US citizens;

 

1. Expresses grave concern about attempts of the EU institutional bodies to over-step their mandate and choose to ideologize its policies and wrongfully interfere in the internal affairs of the third country, especially given the fact that the Texas Heartbeat Act is strictly the democratic choice of a State legislature that is currently under appeal and rejects any attempts of the EU institutions to impose ideological views on protection the health of pregnant woman and the life of the unborn child;

2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States.