Coalition MPs Respond to EP's Resolution on Inclusion of Right to Abortion

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - A group of coalition MPs from Smer-SD and the Slovak National Party (SNS) has presented a resolution on what they view as the European Parliament's excessive interference in the rights of EU-member states, criticising the EP's resolution on the inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. "The resolution of the European Parliament goes against the spirit of the Slovak Constitution and contradicts the declaration of Parliament on the sovereignty of EU-member and candidate states in cultural and ethical issues. It also fails to respect the responsibility of EU countries for the definition of their health policy, for the organisation and provision of health services and health care, as laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union," the MPs said. Therefore, they proposed that Parliament should reject the EP's attempts to interfere in the rights of the EU-member states by a resolution. The motion was submitted by MPs Marian Kery, Jan Podmanicky, Richard Gluck (all Smer-SD) and Roman Michelko (SNS). Meanwhile, Slovakia party MP Rastislav Kratky also submitted a draft resolution concerning the issue, opining that the EP's initiative to include the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights violates the principle of subsidiarity. However, Parliament rejected his proposal. zel/mcs