COMECE , the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, judges “deplorable” and “inopportune” the European Parliament’s adoption of the “Report on sexual and reproductive health and rights” and the corresponding Resolution, approved by the European Parliament at Strasbourg on 3 July. The Secretariat of COMECE, in a statement, expresses its total disagreement with the contents of the report, since it “asks that abortion be made legal and the day-after pill be made more accessible in all member states and in the candidate countries for EU enlargement”. COMECE reaffirms the teaching of the Catholic Church human life begins from the moment of conception and recalls that “the European Union does not have powers or responsibilities as regards abortion and other questions linked to the safeguard of reproductive and sexual health”. “These issues says the statement remain the exclusive prerogative of member states”. It is therefore “inappropriate” that the EP “should try to influence the policies of member states and of the candidate countries in fields in which it has no responsibility”. “This report will not change the legislation and the policies of the EU and of the member and candidate countries”, notes COMECE. However, it fears that this report will send out two messages that “will serve only to throw discredit on the European Parliament. In other words, it will give the impression that the EP wishes to impose on the member states and candidate countries policies on which only they have the exclusive, democratic right to decide. Or it will promote the suspicion that the EP has no more urgent affairs to deal with than to discuss questions that fall outside its jurisdiction”. The adoption of this report, according to COMECE, will not contribute to “boosting confidence among citizens”.
