Fortunately, last week's the attempt in the European Parliament to pass a "written statement on dignity at the end of life" was unsuccessful. This was announced by the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE), member of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights as representatives of family associations of fifteen European countries.
"It is encouraging—says the press release—that the text received the support of only 96 of the 751 deputies, thus failing to reach the required majority of members of the European assembly." Using misleading terms and "without taking into account the principle of subsidiarity—continues the FAFCE—this written statement said that 'all European citizens, regardless of their nationality, who are in an advanced stage of a terminal or incurable illness, suffering unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated, should be able to benefit from medical assistance to end their lives with dignity.'" This statement, therefore, had as its objective the promotion of euthanasia on a continental scale.
With respect to this, the president of FAFCE, Antoine Renard, stated that "it is clear that the pro-euthanasia lobby has started to actively operate in the European Parliament. This implies the risk that the attention of European policy makers be diverted from what the EU could do to promote good practices among the Member States in the field of palliative care and supporting the family that cares for a person at the end of his/her life."
