Overview

Overview

European abortion laws and policies continue to evolve in a clear, progressive direction. Over the past decade, countries across the region have steadily repealed restrictive laws, removed barriers to care, and expanded legal access to abortion. Laws and policies are consistently brought into closer alignment with international human rights standards and public health guidance.

In the past 10 years, 21 countries across Europe have enacted meaningful reforms to improve access to abortion care. This has been achieved by legalising abortion on request, extending time frames, removing procedural barriers and expanding access to medication abortion. Today, 43 countries allow abortion on request at least during early pregnancy, while only five retain highly restrictive abortion laws. Further reforms are currently under consideration in at least 10 countries.

Yet significant barriers remain. Mandatory waiting periods, biased counselling requirements, restrictive time limits, criminal penalties, financial barriers and third-party authorisation requirements continue to impede access to quality and timely abortion care in many countries.

The below report and fact sheets help break down the current state of European abortion laws.

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