The debate over the right to abortion in Europe has returned forcefully to the forefront after the European Parliament adopted a resolution affirming the right to, and the need to improve access to, safe and legal abortion services, with funding from the European Union. Behind the “big picture” of European-level decisions, however, lie the differing realities across member states. In Cyprus, abortion remains a right that, while legally enshrined, continues to be accompanied by institutional, financial and social obstacles.
What applies in Cyprus
Abortion in Cyprus is regulated by the Criminal Code, following a 2018 amendment that legalised the medical termination of pregnancy under specific conditions. Under the law, abortion is permitted up to the 12th week of pregnancy with the consent of the pregnant woman. In cases of rape, sexual abuse, incest, or where minors or women with intellectual disabilities are involved, the limit is extended to the 19th week. There is no time limit when there is a serious risk to the life or physical or mental health of the woman, or when severe foetal abnormalities are identified.
As a gynaecologist told Politis, abortion constitutes the “intentional termination of pregnancy” and may be carried out either medically or surgically. Medical abortion is available up to the seventh week of pregnancy, while surgical procedures apply thereafter. However, the doctor noted that physicians retain the right to refuse to perform abortions on moral grounds, a factor that in practice limits access.
GESY and cost
Although medical termination of pregnancy was included in the General Healthcare System (GESY) in 2020, coverage applies only to cases deemed medically necessary. When an abortion is carried out “by choice” up to the 12th week, it is not covered by GESY. According to the same gynaecologist, the cost outside the public system ranges from €600 to €800 for a surgical abortion, while a medical abortion costs approximately €100–120, excluding medical consultations and the responsibility for managing possible – albeit rare – side effects.
One of the most serious gaps, he stressed, is the absence of organised psychological support. “Psychological support is not provided. If a woman wants it, she has to seek it out herself. As a state, we fall short in this area,” he said, underlining that such support should be offered free of charge and on a systematic basis.
Persistent taboos
Similarly, a representative of the Cyprus Family Planning Association told Politis that although abortion is legal, access is not equal for all women. “If a woman seeks to terminate a pregnancy after the 12th week but lacks the financial means, then in practice she is deprived of that right,” the representative explained. They also highlighted the lack of sufficient data on abortions in Cyprus, as the issue continues to be treated as a taboo. “Sexuality is approached with guilt and silence,” they said, adding that while the counselling hotline 1455 is in operation, women are increasingly seeking more immediate and personalised forms of support.
This lack of data is also reflected in parliamentary questions submitted to the House of Representatives. According to a response from the Ministry of Health to a question by MP Charalambos Theopemptou in March 2021, 65 abortions were carried out through GESY between June 2020 and March 2021. The reasons included, among others, missed miscarriage, foetal abnormalities, trisomy 21, intrauterine death, serious risks to the mother, as well as unwanted pregnancies. In a subsequent parliamentary reply in 2022, the Ministry clarified that medical termination of pregnancy is reimbursed by GESY only under specific conditions, confirming that “elective” abortions remain outside coverage.
Pressure from the EU
Against this backdrop of inequalities, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 17 December 2025 aimed at improving access to abortion care across Europe, with 358 votes in favour, 202 against and 79 abstentions. The resolution, which frames safe and accessible abortion as a fundamental human right so that women from countries with restrictive frameworks can gain access, puts pressure on the European Commission to propose a new institutional framework. It highlights that around 20 million women in the EU still lack full access to safe and legal abortion services.
The rapporteur of the resolution, Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani of the Renew Europe group, described the vote as “a huge victory for every woman in Europe”, stressing that citizens “have raised their voices for women’s lives, health and rights”.
The resolution stems from the European Citizens’ Initiative “My Voice, My Choice”, launched in 2024, which collected 1.2 million signatures across all EU member states, including Cyprus. The initiative was created by activists in response to concerns triggered by the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States in 2022. Its aim was not to impose uniform EU legislation on abortion, but to establish an optional funding mechanism so that women forced to travel to another country to access abortion services would not face an excessive financial burden.
A positive step
Dutch MEP Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle (Renew Europe), speaking to Politis, said the initiative represents “a necessary, though not final, step”. As she explained, the Netherlands has become a “safe haven” for thousands of European women, as abortion is permitted up to the 24th week of pregnancy. However, the cost – which can reach €1,000 – remains a barrier. While the mechanism does not resolve the issue of doctors refusing to provide abortions on moral or religious grounds, she said it does help improve access for the most vulnerable groups. “Respect for individual conscience cannot mean that entire regions are left without services,” she noted.
What comes next
Following the adoption of the resolution, the European Commission is expected to respond formally and present next steps towards ensuring safe and legal abortion by early March 2026. The debate is likely to be politically challenging, as the issue remains deeply divisive among member states. Until then, the reality for millions of women – in Cyprus and across Europe – continues to be shaped by where they live, how much they can afford to pay and which doctor they encounter. A right that, for many, still requires a struggle to become a lived reality.