A comparative study of abortion policy across the European Union's member states

Abstract

This dissertation sheds the light on one of the most sensitive issues touching people's values, morals and beliefs. Many women face abortion every year and it is no easy task for them, even though many claim that this is a woman's right. Not all of the European Union's Member States allow abortion. Some people claim that these countries breach women's sexual and reproductive rights but others support countries' positions supporting the unborn life. In theory, the EU has no competence to take decisions about abortion as this is the individual country's responsibility but in practice, things seem a little bit more different as one sees from cases which the European Court of Human Rights deals with. This dilemma remains very debateable as witnessed by several literature sources. Chapter one describes different abortion legislations across Europe, the conditions under which abortion is permitted and the restrictions applied while analysing the difficulties of obtaining safe abortions, particularly in ex-Soviet countries. It also focuses on the influence of the Catholic Church in certain religious countries. Chapter two is based on quantitative data where I analyse and compare rates and figures across countries where abortion is legal. I also analyse the survey carried out by Gift of Life Malta so as to portray the Maltese public's opinions regarding abortion. Chapter three analyses two major debates in the European Parliament regarding women's health and abortion while chapter four attempts to answer the research aims of this study.