Launch of Pro-life European Citizen's Initiative in Brussels

A European Citizens' Initiative on 'protecting the right to life' was scheduled to be introduced Thursday afternoon in Brussels. A new procedure introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, the European citizens' initiative allows one million EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies. By law, the European Commission must respond to the proposal.

The launch of the Initiative is the final event of a “Week for Life” organized by Pro-life Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), in collaboration with the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community, or COMECE.

“The is the first time we propose a meeting with these characteristics, but in my opinion, the most important thing is we do not want to give up,” said Jaime Mayor Oreja, MEP.

The Spanish legislator told Vatican Radio they hope to make this meeting an annual event.

“We are not giving up in this important idea, in order to defend the right to life,” he said.

During the week, organizers have prepared a series of hearings and debates on issues including reproductive health, stem cell research and palliative care within the context of EU programs.

Mayor Oreja emphasized the importance of influencing the prevalent culture in Europe.

“We need to modify a social tendency, we need to modify the social trend, we need to a change of personal attitudes in order to defend this essential right,” he said. “This is the most important objective we have.”

Listen: