Marine Tondelier, the leader of the French Greens, penned an open letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron, stressing that France could not be “complicit, even indirectly, of retrograde policies, nor can it tolerate that vital medical resources be destroyed when they could save lives, prevent unwanted pregnancies and contribute to greater autonomy for women.”
In a written response sent to POLITICO, a French diplomatic official said Paris would “continue to monitor the situation” and back efforts from Belgium to “find a solution to prevent the destruction of contraceptives, so that they can reach the women and men who need them and are waiting for them around the world.”
Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot told the AFP newswire that his government had “initiated diplomatic talks with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels” and is currently “exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions.”
A European Commission spokesperson said they had “taken note of [Camara’s] letter and acknowledge the concerns raised.”
The spokesperson also underlined that NGOs and international organizations including United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and MSI Reproductive Choices had made an offer to the U.S. to pick up the contraceptives, “though without result so far.”
Pressure has been mounting over the past two weeks, with civil societies and international organizations condemning the decision as “unconscionable.”
