The Complex Legal Framework of Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Its Role in Addressing Demographic Challenges

European society is ageing, as disclosed by many research papers and reports, and is marked by an increase in the number of older adults and a decrease in childbirth rate. Infertility is another related problem, with approximately 12-15% of couples unable to bear children. This has further decreased childbirth rates. However, current medical advancements can help infertile couples to bear child(ren), even if the success rate of medically assisted reproductive techniques (ART) is not 100%. The literature emphasises that as the age of childbearing increases, fertility tends to decrease. This tendency is also reflected in the success rate of ART, as ‘despite the continuous technological improvements, ART cannot fully compensate for the age-related decline in female reproductive performance because the effectiveness of ART also declines with age’.2 This article discusses the legal background of ART in the Hungarian legal environment, the acknowledged types and institutional background of ART, and the available state aids for ART. Focusing mainly on the Hungarian legal regime and legal framework, at some points, it also offers examples from other nations (mostly Central European countries).