The Europeans | European news, politics and culture How to keep going when the world feels broken
Mar 5, 2026
Nori Spauwen, a Dutch writer, political philosopher and former diplomat who campaigns for healthy activism, discusses staying engaged without burning out. She talks about setting news boundaries, small acts that rebuild agency, and practical ways to retrain your nervous system. Short, empowering ideas about sustainable action and finding the role that fits you.
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How A Citizens Initiative Opened EU Funding For Abortions
- The My Voice My Choice organisers exceeded one million signatures and pushed the European Commission to allow EU funds to support cross-border abortion access.
- The win meant ESF Plus can be used by supportive countries to reimburse care for women from restrictive states.
Practical Win Despite No Dedicated EU Fund
- The Commission's decision is a symbolic and practical shift: no new dedicated fund, but ESF Plus now explicitly usable for cross-border abortion support.
- This creates precedent enabling health-related use of a €142bn pot if national governments implement it.
Governments Must Act To Turn The Ruling Into Reality
- Implementation depends on national governments choosing to allocate ESF Plus funds for cross-border abortion services.
- Katy urges supportive states like France to act because most ESF Plus money is distributed by national governments.
