Surrogate motherhood
29.6.2016
Question for written answer E-005221-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Georg Mayer (ENF)
Both in the Council of Europe and at the Hague Conference for International Private Law, efforts are being made to standardise the global trade in surrogate motherhood. Article 35 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that a child has the right not to be sold or trafficked in. That convention has been ratified by most States, with the exception of the USA. In practice, it is customary for surrogate mothers to receive payment. Surrogate motherhood is therefore illegal under the law on children. Moreover, the Law on Reproductive Medicine is not compatible with ethical and moral principles.
1. What view does the Commission take of this contradiction?2. How does the Commission justify the exploitation of women's bodies for reproductive purposes?3. Has the Commission given consideration to the health risks to women due to hormone stimulation and the associated increase in the rate of still birth in comparison with normal pregnancies?