Menopause is a universal life stage, yet it remains largely invisible in policy debates—despite its far-reaching implications for health systems, labour markets, and gender equality. In the EU, rising life expectancy and rapid population ageing mean that more women will spend decades post-menopause, at a time when Europe is also grappling with workforce shortages and competitiveness challenges. By 2030, an estimated 51.9 million women in Europe will be experiencing menopause, making it an increasingly urgent policy issue.
Despite its scale, menopause remains largely absent from EU strategies and workplace norms. Stigma and limited support can delay diagnosis and undermine women’s health and participation at work—driving absenteeism, reduced productivity, and early exit from the labour market, often referred to as the “menopause penalty.” The economic impact is significant: in Germany alone, workplace disruptions linked to unmanaged symptoms are estimated to cost companies EUR 9.5 billion annually. At the same time, access to care and treatment varies across Member States, alongside persistent gaps in training, data, and research.
As the EU shapes its 2026–2030 Gender Equality Strategy and broader women’s health agenda, there is a clear opportunity to embed menopause as a cross-cutting priority—linking health, employment, and equality, and contributing to closing the “Women’s Health Gap.”
This policymakers’ breakfast will convene EU decision-makers, experts, and stakeholders to turn awareness into concrete action—focusing on access to care, research gaps, workplace support, and integration into key EU frameworks, including the European Health Union and Gender Equality Strategy.
