A report broadcast by Polish television TVP1 and shared by Polish politician Rafał Mekler has reignited debate over the commercial surrogacy industry in Europe, particularly its cross-border dimension and links to Ukraine.
According to Mekler, the footage documents what organisers described as an “international fair” for prospective parents in Brussels. However, critics cited in the report argue that what was presented as a family-oriented event in fact resembled a commercial marketplace centred on surrogacy arrangements.
Surrogacy industry Europe under scrutiny
The report describes a system in which children are effectively treated as part of a commercial process, with packages offered to clients that include legal support, medical services, and logistical arrangements. Prices for such services were cited in the report as ranging from $90,000 to $150,000.
“This is a form of human trafficking that demonstrates the decline of our civilisation. It is unimaginable this is how slaves were once traded,” said academic Mieczysław Ryba in the broadcast.
According to the investigation, clients are offered a range of options, including expedited procedures and additional guarantees. The report claims that some packages include assurances related to the health and replacement conditions of the child, though such claims remain controversial and are widely disputed in broader legal and ethical discussions.
Demand driven by international clients
The report suggests that a significant share of clients are same-sex couples seeking access to surrogacy arrangements that may not be available under their domestic legal systems.
One participant cited in the programme described personal motivations for turning to surrogacy, linking the decision to family expectations and the desire to have children.
Industry representatives also featured in the report. Sherman L. Taylor II, head of the organisation “Men Having Babies,” said:
“We are growing and developing to fulfill our mission educating and informing gay men about how to have children and how to secure financing to reduce the costs of the entire process.”
The report outlines how the process is organised in detail, including online coordination, surrogacy arrangements, legal contracts, transport of biological materials, and travel logistics culminating in the transfer of parental rights.
Ukraine’s central role in surrogacy industry Europe
Particular attention in the report is given to Ukraine, described as a key hub for commercial surrogacy due to its relatively permissive legal environment.
Footage previously circulated in international media showed dozens of newborns in a clinic in Kyiv, awaiting collection by intended parents who were unable to travel during pandemic restrictions. According to figures cited in the report, a large majority of children born through surrogacy in Ukraine are transferred abroad.
“Children are treated as commodities, something comparable to owning a luxury car,” said academic Arkady Yablonsky, commenting on the broader cultural implications.
Legal concerns and Hague Convention
Legal experts interviewed in the report raised concerns about potential conflicts with international law. Tymoteusz Zych, a lawyer with the Ordo Iuris institute, stated:
“Surrogacy is nothing other than a form of prohibited human trafficking and extreme objectification of women, used in a purely commercial practice.”
He argued that such arrangements may contradict the 1993 Hague Convention on intercountry adoption, which prohibits improper financial gain in adoption processes. Article 32 of the convention states that no one may derive undue financial or other benefit from activities related to intercountry adoption, allowing only reasonable expenses and professional fees.
Moldova faces regulatory gaps
For Moldova, the issue has practical implications. As of 2026, national legislation remains only partially defined. While surrogacy is permitted under the family code, the commercial dimension is not clearly regulated.
There is no explicit ban on payments beyond basic expenses, nor are there strong oversight mechanisms governing intermediaries who connect foreign clients with Moldovan women.
Given the country’s economic challenges, experts warn that women may be drawn into surrogacy arrangements primarily for financial reasons.
One surrogate mother cited in the report, Lisa Schuster, described motivations in more personal terms:
“Many surrogate mothers have the same motivation the inner need to share the gift they have received, meaning children, with others.”
However, the report’s authors argue that economic necessity often plays a decisive role in such decisions.
Attempts to limit media coverage
The report also describes resistance from event organisers. After journalists recorded footage at the Brussels event, organisers reportedly contacted the broadcaster requesting that the material not be published.
Commentator Grzegorz Górny said:
“The organisers want to conceal what is at the core of this enterprise – an immoral practice of instrumentalising women and treating children as tradable goods.”
Ongoing European debate
The controversy highlights broader divisions within Europe over how to regulate surrogacy, balance ethical concerns, and address cross-border legal inconsistencies.
As discussions continue, the issue remains sensitive particularly for countries like Moldova, where legal ambiguity and economic pressures may increase exposure to such practices.
