BRUSSELS, 25 March 2021 - Co-chaired by S&D MEPs Evelyn Regner and Raphaël Glucksmann, The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) held a joint hearing on "Foreign interference on the financing of anti-choice organisations in the EU".
The hearing looked into the issue of foreign interference on the financing of anti-abortion/anti-choice organisations in the EU that undermine Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of women.
Invited experts included EPF Secretary, Neil Datta, Claire Provost from openDemocracy and Veronique Sehier from Le Planning Familial.
Experts provided their information and data about anti-choice movements in some specific Member States and in the EU, in general.
MEPs called for more transparency and better rules on foreign funding for NGOs and foundations in Europe.
“We are learning about the growing financial flows originating from outside the EU – from Russia, the USA and other places – to European anti-choice organisations, which actively work towards undermining sexual education and attack women’s right to decide over their own bodies. This is unacceptable. This foreign interference is an attack on fundamental rights in Europe and our democracy. We need more and better rules to reduce these dark money in-flows from abroad.” - S&D MEP Evelyn Regner, chair of the committee on women’s rights and gender equality