An Italian law declared surrogacy a “universal crime” at home and for Italians abroad, according to Euractiv.
The ban will take effect when it is published in Gazzetta Ufficiale on Monday. The new legislation, strongly backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, carries penalties ranging from three months to two years in prison and fines of between 600,000 euros and 1 million euros.
However, critics argue that the law is unconstitutional and impractical. Riccardo Magi, leader of +Europa, said the law was “another unconstitutional law from this government, doomed to be struck down by the courts.” Italy would become “the only country in the world criminalising a practice that is legal elsewhere,” Magi added.
The term ‘universal crime’ clashes with reality.
Some European countries, such as Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece and the United Kingdom, allow surrogacy, often on a non-profit or altruistic basis. Others, including France, Spain, Germany and Norway, banned the practice entirely. The Luca Coscioni Association called surrogacy a “scientific opportunity,” condemning the law as unfair and irrational. The association’s treasurer, Marco Cappato, and secretary general, Filomena Gallo, stated:
We are ready to defend all the couples affected by this unjust law. Their fight will be our fight in the courts.
According to the association, affected couples include heterosexual ones where the women face serious health issues preventing pregnancy and same-sex couples who want to build a family.
