Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002340/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Maria Walsh (PPE), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (PPE), Nina Carberry (PPE), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Liesbet Sommen (PPE), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Martin Hojsík (Renew), Kathleen Funchion (The Left), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D), Catarina Martins (The Left), Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Filip Turek (PfE), Irena Joveva (Renew), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Evelyn Regner (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE), Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak (PPE), Marit Maij (S&D), Romana Jerković (S&D), Lucia Yar (Renew), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Aurore Lalucq (S&D), Marc Angel (S&D), Regina Doherty (PPE), Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Danuše Nerudová (PPE), Barry Andrews (Renew)
Menstrual poverty is defined as insufficient access to menstrual products and facilities. It affects an estimated 10 % of the menstruating population in the EU, and approximately half of the total EU population menstruates at some point in their lives.
The lack of a standardised EU-wide dataset on the prevalence of menstrual poverty is a significant problem. The absence of standardised data collection at EU level negatively affects effective policy responses.
Furthermore, despite the 2022 revision of the EU VAT Directive, which allowed Member States to reduce or eliminate VAT on menstrual products, disparities persist across the Member States. The lack of a harmonised EU approach exacerbates menstrual poverty.
Given these challenges:
- 1.How does the Commission intend to address menstrual poverty across the EU during its new term of office?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to present an EU menstrual health strategy to support Member States in tackling menstrual poverty?
Menstrual poverty has been overlooked for too long and is often treated as a marginal concern. With strong political commitment and coordinated action, menstrual poverty can be eradicated. This is not just a matter of public health, but also of gender equality and fundamental human rights.
Submitted: 11.6.2025