Commission pressed to save USAID contraceptive stockpile in Belgium

Forty left-leaning and centrist MEPs – from S&D, the Greens, Renew, and The Left – have called on the Commission to prevent the destruction of USAID-funded contraceptives stored in Belgium. However, the Commission has already passed the buck.

At the initiative of French Green MEP Mélissa Camara, several dozen lawmakers signed one more letter addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to prevent the destruction of contraceptives intended for beneficiaries of international aid, reportedly worth €10 million.

These contraceptives were purchased by the US foreign aid agency USAID under former President Joe Biden and intended for women in some of the world’s poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sent on Friday and seen by Euractiv, the letter urges the Commission to take diplomatic action, request the suspension of the destruction, and explore a logistical solution for redistribution to the intended beneficiaries.

The MEPs also ask that the Commission’s services conduct a legal and regulatory assessment to determine whether such destruction complies with EU law on sustainable development and gender equality. They further urge the Commission to provide political support for humanitarian organisations prepared to redistribute the contraceptives.

Since media reports on 23 July revealed that the stock was facing destruction due to Donald Trump’s dismantling of USAID, NGOs and MEPs have fought to save it. A campaign called “Don’t burn care: save contraceptives, save lives” has collected almost 100,000 signatures so far.

A Commission source told Euractiv in August that it was up to Belgium to take action. The source added that there were “no signs” of any forthcoming EU intervention. Today’s request from Euractiv to the Commission regarding whether its stance has changed has not yet been answered.

The Belgian foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, said on Friday that he had already urged the United States not to destroy the contraceptives. “We continue through diplomatic channels to vigorously advocate against such waste,” he told AFP.

According to several media reports, the unexpired products – still US property – were to be incinerated in France at the end of July by a company specialising in the destruction of medical waste.

“I was informed this was unfounded information,” Prévot said, but confirmed that “there are stocks worth several million euros, including contraceptives initially intended for Africa, that are still on Belgian soil.”

(aw)