An EU law dealing with a development aid programme would fund abortion in the poorest countries of the world, according to the Connacht/Ulster MEP, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon. In Strasbourg yesterday, Ms Scallon said she was deeply shocked. The Council of Ministers had already confirmed that abortion did not fall within the Union's legal competence.
She said that a Danish MEP, Ms Ulla Sandbaek, had stated on Irish radio that abortion would be funded by the EU and claimed this would be legally possible. The wording was in tune with language agreed at the UN Cairo conference, which mentioned abortions.
"There is no doubt that Irish taxpayers' money will be used to fund this new compulsory EU programme which will impose abortion," Ms Scallon said. The use of such money was in conflict with the Constitution. "It is also illegal to use taxpayers' money in the EU to fund the abortion of children," she said.