EESC to discuss European Citizen's Initiative 'My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion' at January plenary

21-22 January 2026

European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak building (Grand hemicycle – PHSHEM), 1047 Brussels

Web stream click here

Debates

Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 15:00

Debate on artificial intelligence

with Lucilla Sioli, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Office at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), Max Reddel, Advanced AI Director at the Centre for Future Generations, and Andrea Renda, Director of Research at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)

linked to INT/1105 - Apply AI Strategy - strengthening the AI continent

Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 16:30

European Citizen's Initiative 'My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion'

with Irena Moozová, Deputy Director General in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG Just), Mary Collins, Secretary General at the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), Abir Al-Sahlani, Member of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's

Rights and Gender Equality (remotely), and Nika Kovač, representative of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) My Voice, My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion (remotely)

linked to SOC/848 - My Voice, My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion

Thursday 22 January 2026 at 09:30

Presentation of the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union

with Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus

Opinions in the spotlight

ENERGY AND TRANSPORT

Connecting Europe Facility 2028-2034 (TEN/859, rapporteur: Mateusz Szymański (PL-II), co-rapporteur: Tomas Arvidsson (SV-I))

The Committee welcomes the European Commission's proposal aimed to invest in energy and transport infrastructure in order to urgently strengthen the EU's resilience and improve security. However, the EESC says that funding in the new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is insufficient and should be increased to at least 100 billion. CEF funding should also be linked to criteria such as creation of European value as well as social and environmental standards. More

BUDGET

Multiannual financial framework 2028–2034 (ECO/682, rapporteurs: Dominika Biegon (DE-II), Konstantinos Diamantouros (GR-I), Luca Jahier (IT-III))

The EESC warns that the Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework does not provide sufficient resources to meet the EU’s strategic, social and economic challenges. It calls for a substantial increase in real funding, fair and effective new own resources and strong protection of cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. The Committee stresses the need for meaningful involvement of civil society and social partners, rejects macroeconomic conditionality, and underlines that EU spending must support competitiveness, social rights, territorial cohesion and the green and digital transitions. More

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 (NAT/960, rapporteur: Joe Healy (IE-III), co-rapporteur: Arnold Puech d'Alissac (FR-I))

The EESC strongly rejects the Commission’s budget proposal for agriculture, warning it lacks vision and risks weakening the Common Agricultural Policy by forcing it to compete with cohesion funding. The EESC calls instead for a reinforced, standalone CAP worth 0.5% of EU GDP, fairer direct payments, stronger support for young and female farmers, and tougher rules to protect farmers, workers and the EU food supply chain. More

ECONOMY

 EU Fund for cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security (ECO/683, rapporteur: Florian Marin (RO-II), co-rapporteur: David Sventek (CZ-I))

The EESC expresses serious concerns about the proposal to merge key EU policies into a single multifund for the period 2028-2034. While acknowledging the aim of simplification, it warns that this approach risks weakening cohesion policy, diluting long-term support for regions, farmers and fishers, and creating competition between social, territorial and security priorities. The Committee calls for strong partnership principles, binding social and territorial safeguards, a dedicated Just Transition Fund and greater transparency to ensure EU funding reduces inequalities and strengthens trust in the EU. More

Own resources - 2025 proposal (ECO/684, rapporteur: Katrīna Zariņa (LV-I), co-rapporteur: Petru Sorin Dandea (RO-II))

The Committee calls for a strategic reform of the EU’s system of own resources to strengthen financial autonomy, fairness and competitiveness. It supports the introduction of new revenue sources linked to EU policies, particularly in the environmental field, while warning against regressive impacts and uneven burdens across Member States. The Committee expresses reservations about the Corporate Resource for Europe and urges a phased, evidence-based approach with strong involvement of social partners to ensure new own resources support sustainable growth, cohesion and a resilient EU budget. More

Euro area economic policy 2026 (ECO/687, rapporteur: Javier Doz Orrit (ES-II))

The EESC broadly supports the Commission’s recommendations on euro area economic policy for 2026 but warns that they will be difficult to implement without stronger common investment tools and political unity. It calls for full use of Recovery and Resilience Facility funding, investment in European public goods and rapid progress on completing the single market and the Savings and Investments Union. The Committee stresses that increased defence spending must not undermine social cohesion, climate objectives or infrastructure investment, and calls for a dedicated EU response to the housing crisis and stronger civil society involvement in economic governance. More

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Proposal for a regulation on Erasmus+ 2028-2034 (SOC/842, rapporteur: Nicoletta Merlo (IT-II), co‑rapporteur: Katrīna Leitāne (LV-III))
The EESC calls for a clearer programme structure distinguishing youth, education and training, and sport, supported by dedicated funding for each sector. It urges stronger investment in vocational education and training, improved inclusion measures for people with fewer opportunities, and better support for mobility of learners and professionals. It also calls for opening Erasmus+ to non‑EU countries upholding democratic values and for a significant budget increase to match demand and ensure equitable access for all. More

Horizon Europe (INT/1102, rapporteur: Christophe Lefèvre (FR-II))

The EESC supports the proposed Horizon Europe 2028–2034 as a key tool to strengthen EU competitiveness, technological leadership and strategic autonomy, welcoming the €175 billion budget as a strong signal for research and innovation. It calls for better alignment between funding and results, stronger support for basic research and societal challenges, and fair, simplified access to funding across the EU. More

SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Establishing the European Social Fund as part of the National and Regional Partnership Plan (SOC/845, rapporteur: Nicoletta Merlo (IT-II))

The EESC calls for a stronger European Social Fund (ESF), with higher social spending, mandatory national and regional programmes, and clearer governance involving social partners and civil society. It urges better coordination with other EU funds, simplified access to ESF resources, and stronger administrative capacity. The Committee highlights the need for major investment in skills, quality education and training, support for women, young people and vulnerable groups, and measures to tackle labour shortages. More

My Voice, My Choice: for safe and accessible abortion (SOC/848, rapporteur: José Antonio Moreno Díaz (ES-II))

The Committee strongly supports the My Voice, My Choice initiative and reaffirms that access to safe, legal abortion is a fundamental human right linked to dignity, equality and freedom. It calls on the European Commission to propose EU‑level financial support for Member States, collect disaggregated data, and ensure abortion care is recognised as part of measures to prevent gender‑based violence. The Committee stresses that decisions on pregnancy must lie solely with women, accompanied by comprehensive sexuality education and protections against coercion, disinformation and stigma. More

EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women - UNCSW70 (SOC/855, rapporteurs: Giulia Barbucci (IT-II), Juliane Marie Neiiendam (DK-III), Christa Schweng (AT-I))
The EESC calls for stronger action to ensure all women and girls can access justice, addressing legal, financial and social barriers that prevent them from claiming their rights. It urges Member States to adopt and fund gender‑responsive justice plans, strengthen protection for survivors of violence, and provide accessible legal aid, especially for vulnerable groups. The EESC underlines that advancing gender equality and access to justice is essential for democracy and calls for coordinated action, robust monitoring and full implementation of EU and international commitments.

INTERNAL MARKET

Single Market and Customs Programme 2028–2034 (INT/1104, rapporteur: Vasco De Mello (PT-I))

The Committee supports the programme’s aim to strengthen the single market by reducing barriers, improving digitalisation and enhancing cooperation between Member States. It underlines the need for effective customs controls, sufficient human resources and fair competition, particularly for imports from third countries and e-commerce. More

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Apply AI Strategy - strengthening the AI continent (INT/1105, rapporteur: Rudolf Kolbe (AT-III); co-rapporteur: Miroslav Hajnoš (SK-II))

The EESC welcomes the Apply AI Strategy as a key initiative to accelerate the responsible uptake of AI and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness within a human-centric framework. It calls for simpler funding, regulatory clarity and stronger support for SMEs to ensure rapid and inclusive market uptake. More

HEALTH

EU Medical Countermeasures and Stockpiling Strategies (CCMI/251, rapporteur: Paulo Barros Vale (PT-I), co-rapporteur: Nicos Epistithiou (CY-Cat. 2))
The EESC welcomes the EU’s plans to strengthen preparedness through medical countermeasures and stockpiling. It calls for proper funding, stronger support for European pharmaceutical production, and a European health innovation hub to boost research and collaboration. The opinion also stresses the need for coordinated stockpiling, workforce training, fair incentives for industry, and the involvement of civil society to make Europe’s response more effective and accessible. More

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu

Tel: + 32 2 546 9793

@EESC_PRESS