Evangelical Christians in Brussels have reacted to the push of the European Parliament to make abortion a “fundamental right”.

“The Parliament expressed an opinion on a topic that is not within its power”, Arie de Pater, Brussels manager of the European Evangelical Alliance told Evangelical Focus hours after the 336-163 vote of the European legislative chamber.

“The adoption of the resolution is no big surprise. But let me emphasise that this resolution is a non-binding document”, said the evangelical representative, since it is “merely an expression of an opinion by a majority of members of the European Parliament”.

“Moreover, health care (including abortion) is not a competency of the European Union”, the EEA underlines.

Changing Human Rights Charter not easy

“Amending the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights requires unanimity in the European Council, the heads of state. Regardless the opinion of the European Parliament, it is quite unlikely that the Council will add abortion to the Charter indeed”, added Arie de Pater.

Therefore, “this resolution won’t change anything, at least not for now”. But “having said that, the fact that a majority in the Parliament calls for abortion as a human right is no doubt discomforting to many if not all Evangelicals across Europe”, the EEA representative lamented.