Planned Parenthood baby parts videos prompt call to suspend European Commission funding

BRUSSELS – A member of the European Parliament has submitted written questions to the European Commission in the wake of the release of videos that depict Planned Parenthood officials involved in the possible illegal sale of baby parts from abortions.

MEP Miroslav Mikolášik asked the commission if it is aware of the videos produced by the Center for Medical Progress, if it intends to condemn Planned Parenthood’s actions and suspend funding until U.S. authorities complete a thorough investigation, and if it intends to prevent Planned Parenthood from joining the European Commission’s lawsuit against the “One of Us” European Citizen Initiative, a grassroots effort to end the commission’s funding of embryonic stem cell research.

“No one should be forced to fund a wealthy corporation caught on camera negotiating the sale of baby parts,” said ADF International Director of EU Advocacy Sophia Kuby, who is based in Brussels. “The money of the people of Europe should not be used for such atrocities. We hope the commission will respond to the MEP’s questions by saying that it will act immediately to suspend funding for Planned Parenthood in light of these developments.”

The questions submitted to the European Commission in accordance with Rule 130 of Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament ask if the commission is “aware of this practice and the video evidence produced by the Centre for Medical Progress, which points to the direct involvement of Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in illegal trafficking of human body parts” and if the commission will “condemn this practice and suspend all direct or indirect funding of Planned Parenthood facilities, projects or programmes until such time as US authorities have carried out a thorough investigation of the matter.”

The European Commission typically has up to six weeks to provide answers to questions that MEPs submit.

The U.S. Congress is investigating Planned Parenthood in the wake of the release of five videos, which are apparently among many more yet to be released. Three U.S. states have suspended funding to Planned Parenthood, and several other U.S. states are conducting investigations.

ADF International is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.