Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001082/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Manon Aubry (The Left), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Nicolae Ştefănuță (Verts/ALE), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Vladimir Prebilič (Verts/ALE), Katrin Langensiepen (Verts/ALE), Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew), Jessika Van Leeuwen (PPE), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE), Marit Maij (S&D), Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (PPE), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Maria Walsh (PPE), Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Renew), Estrella Galán (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Irena Joveva (Renew), Emma Rafowicz (S&D), Sigrid Friis (Renew), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Martin Schirdewan (The Left), Marc Angel (S&D), Gabriela Firea (S&D), Sara Matthieu (Verts/ALE), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Christophe Clergeau (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left)
Period products can cost a woman up to EUR 27 000 throughout her lifetime. Defined as the lack of access to menstrual products and information about them, period poverty is largely driven by economic factors and affects millions of people across the EU. Moreover, it is an issue which disproportionately affects younger women. Parliament’s resolution of 24 June 2021 on sexual and reproductive rights[1] encouraged Member States to reduce VAT on menstrual products to 0 %. However, general inflation has undermined this effort, as rising prices have offset tax reductions, limiting their impact on accessibility. It is important to remember that period poverty can have serious consequences for physical and mental health. Addressing period poverty is also essential to narrowing the gender gap in the EU.
- 1.Considering that period poverty intersects with multiple policy areas, how does the Commission plan to adopt a comprehensive approach to address this issue, which disproportionately affects younger women, beyond measures such as reducing or eliminating the ‘tampon tax’?
- 2.With some Member States already implementing policies to tackle period poverty, how can the Commission facilitate the sharing of good practices across all Member States?
- 3.How does the Commission plan to address the impact of period poverty on mental well-being?
Submitted: 12.3.2025
- [1] European Parliament resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health, OJ C 81, 18.2.2022, p. 43.