European Policy Audit on Fertility

The first European Policy Audit on Fertility (EPAF) is a joint project of Fertility Europe and ESHRE. It presents and compares up-to date information about the national fertility spectrum and policies in pre-selected European countries, identifies current needs and works towards policy recommendations targeted at EU and national policy makers.

In addition to an overview of key facts and statistics related to fertility across the 28 members of the European Union, the EPAF includes a detailed overview of policies and regulations in nine EU member states: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and UK.

The launch in European Parliament

On 28 March 2017, MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE), hosted a launch event for the first Policy Audit on Fertility – Analysis of 9 EU Countries. The report, sponsored by Merck, was written by Fertility Europe (FE) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), resulted in a constructive roundtable discussion addressing not only the challenges surrounding infertility, but also what can be done to solve them.

“To talk about fertility is to talk about life, it is to talk about family.” – MEP Valcárcel Siso

“The idea of family has changed. Science and society are evolving and the law needs to keep up. The role of the MEPs is to find solutions to citizens’ problems.” – MEP Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea

“Limitations [in access to ART] are only justified when they improve safety, efficacy, fairness. They are not justified when they create discrimination regarding life choices like postponing parenthood.” – Monika Bulmańska-Wingett, Fertility Europe

We were happy to meet Louise Joy Brown, first IVF conceived baby, as she was with us to support the cause!

Interview with Louise Brown

 

Presentation at Council of Europe meeting.

The report was also presented at a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg.

 

 

This project was conducted under unrestricted grant from Merck.