In Spain, surrogacy is completely illegal, creating barriers for intended parents seeking alternative routes to parenthood. Meanwhile, Greece has established a legal framework for surrogacy since 2002, allowing heterosexual couples who meet certain criteria to engage in these arrangements. In Ukraine, the main hub of surrogacy in Europe, the clinics have seen increased demand for babies since the war began in 2022. In Georgia, where it’s also legal, it is a booming business due to lower rates.
This cross-border team of journalists have developed an in-depth investigation to provide a comprehensive understanding of the surragocy business to reveal its practices and to identify the links between agencies, law firms, lobbies and clinics in the four countries. The team employed a robust methodology that included data collection, personal interviews, legal analysis, and data synthesis.
Impact
Following journalists’ request for information from government institutions of complaints regarding advertising of surrogacy and the publication of the research, the the Ministry of Equality, through the Women's Institute, sent a legal report to the State Bar with the 334 complaints received. The practice of promoting surrogacy services has been illegal since 2023.
In early 2025, the government passed new regulations effectively banning surrogacy relying on women abroad by preventing embassies and consulates from accepting certificates issued by foreign countries in which Spanish citizens are recognized as the parents of a child born through surrogacy.
Subsequently, one of the agencies mentioned in an article of the series has filed a lawsuit against La Marea, seeking 60,000 euros in damages.
Photo: Maria Volkova
