European Parliament Calls for Review of EU Grants to Anti-Abortion Organization

Members of the European Parliament from Poland, Germany, Sweden, and Slovakia have reached out to the European Commission seeking clarification regarding €1.2 million in EU funding allocated to the World Youth Alliance. This US-based organization advocates for anti-abortion perspectives. Although categorized as “non-religious,” the WYA promotes conservative views on gender rights and reproductive health, asserting that abortion should not be included in family planning.

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The WYA has been awarded a €400,000 grant from the Erasmus+ program for its project titled “Women’s Health Goes Digital,” which focuses on offering training related to women’s reproductive health. Nonetheless, the WYA has previously asserted that abortion does not fall under the umbrella of reproductive health, which raises concerns regarding the potential dissemination of misinformation to young individuals.

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Members of the European Parliament, such as Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus and Krzysztof Śmiszek from Poland, Maria Noichl from Germany, Lucia Yar from Slovakia, and Hanna Gedin from Sweden, have urged the European Commission to provide clarity regarding its stance on the funding. The Commission has been requested to disclose the training materials for the project and to examine if the WYA is disseminating information that conflicts with EU values, especially regarding reproductive rights.

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The WYA faces allegations of disseminating misleading information regarding abortion, particularly concerning inaccurate connections to infertility. Medical authorities, including the UK's National Health Service (NHS), have refuted these assertions.

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Neil Datta, Executive Director of the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, expressed criticism towards the EU for its financial support of the WYA, raising doubts about the Commission's understanding of reproductive health. The European Commission has announced that it is assessing the situation to guarantee adherence to EU values.

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This controversy highlights the persistent tensions within the EU regarding reproductive rights and the distribution of funds to organizations that may hold detrimental views on women’s health.

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