European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said Wednesday she will sign the Simone Veil pact, which guarantees women’s access to contraception and abortion.

The announcement came shortly after a meeting Metsola held with French president Emanuel Macron.

The pact is being pushed by the Renew Europe group in the EP - Macron’s European political family.

The pact, named after a French MEP, calls on signatory MEPs to preserve, promote and strengthen the rights of all women at all levels, “European, national and local, in all areas, public and private, for all generations, in all the Member States of the European Union, under the aegis of the European institutions.”

The pact’s other tenets include the protection of maternity and paternity leave, the fight against violence against women, equality at work and political representation.

The Bill will not legalise abortion in Malta.

Following her election on Tuesday, Metsola said her position on abortion would be the position adopted by the EP.

“This parliament has always been clear and unambiguous on the issue of sexual and reproductive health rights. I will not interpret positions of this House. They will be my positions and I will promote them.” 

Metsola’s personal position is anti-abortion, a position shared by the Nationalist Party.