During the EP plenary session (13 - 16 March 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on US President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of the ‘’global gag’’ rule, which obliges US based foreign NGOs to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT (EPP, SE), Linda McAVAN (S&D, UK), Branislav SKRIPEK (ECR, SK), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL), Malin BJORK (GUE/NGL, SE) and Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - USA (T)

ŠKRIPEK, Branislav (ECR, SK)

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

sexual and reproductive health and rights (T)

BJÖRK, Malin (The Left, SE)

CORAZZA BILDT, Anna Maria (EPP, SE)

McAVAN, Linda (S&D, UK)

Global Gag Rule: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, The Commission is concerned about the possible implication on our objective to reach universal coverage of health and reproductive health services particularly in developing countries. Eventually this decision might impact on our Sustainable Development Goals, targets to reduce maternal mortality and to empower women to more informed decisions about their health.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, The funding gap could be large; together notably with member states and civil society we are analysing the US contribution to the fund and what best approach to take.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT (EPP, SE), What we are talking about is not if we are for abortion or against abortion. We are talking about humanitarian law, health, safety, child protection and women rights are human rights. No woman or girl should have to risk her life to have a baby. That&rsquo;s what we are talking about.

SOUNDBITE (English), Linda McAVAN (S&amp;D, UK), Look around this room, women here, men as well, we&rsquo;ve made choices about our own fertility, if and when to have children. It&rsquo;s to a &lsquo;first world right&rsquo; is a right for every woman wherever she lives. And I know Commissioner you will be supporting on this but we need the support of the whole Commission and ministers to ensure that women are not let down after this Gag comes in place.

SOUNDBITE (English), Branislav &#352;KRIPEK (ECR, SK), Abortion has no healthcare benefits, there is none, and it cannot be called a healthcare. Abortion is not a health initiative as Commissioner Stylianides named it, because it cannot be called a basic healthcare. All of those valuable resources should immediately redirected to provide real and multiple care to women so that we can benefit from the next generation and not to mourn them.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), We must lead in the world, we must set the standards. We are the strongest actor in the world and we must make sure that we impose the standards. That&rsquo;s why I very much welcome the &lsquo;She decides&rsquo; initiative, it sends a very strong signal to the Trump administration and to women around the world. But we need to go further (...) We need to fill the funding gap that was left by President Trump, but not only in response to him reinstating the Gag rule, it has to be structural.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Malin BJ&#214;RK (GUE/NGL, SE), Pardon my language, but who the hell do they think they are? We will not be silenced or gagged, the EU, like every member state must now stand up.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), Approximately 600 million dollars can be lost. We cannot let this happen Mr Commissioner. So I urge, increase the EU funding, counter act and fill this decency gap. But also bring a very clear message to our colleagues in the US: we will fight for the freedom and self-determination of women and girls all over the world as the EU. Applause.