---
title: "France legalizes euthanasia: how the new law will work and how it differs from rules in other EU countries"
description: "France takes a historic step: parliament approves the law legalizing euthanasia. 🇫🇷 We examine the strict eligibility criteria and compare the new model with the practices of other EU countries. 🏥📉"
date: 2026-07-16T14:01:57.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/france-legalizes-euthanasia-how-the-new-law-will-work
tags: [france, euthanasia, emmanuel-macron, national-assembly, european-union]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# France legalizes euthanasia: how the new law will work and how it differs from rules in other EU countries

![Medical hands in gloves gently holding an elderly patient's hand, symbolizing support in the context of France's new euthanasia law](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/frantsiya-legalizovala-evtanziiu-novyi-zakon/frantsiya-legalizovala-evtanziiu-novyi-zakon-1.webp)

On July 15, 2026, the French National Assembly passed a bill legalizing active assistance in ending life in its final reading. This decision was the result of a long-standing debate and concludes the examination of the document in both chambers of parliament. The new law establishes strict legal frameworks for citizens suffering from terminal, incurable diseases.

### Strict criteria for access to the procedure

The legislative act is aimed at regulating the rights of patients who have exhausted all therapeutic treatment options. However, not everyone can avail themselves of this new right. The law establishes strict filters to prevent abuse. To be eligible for the procedure, the applicant must meet three key criteria:

- **Civil legal status:** The right applies exclusively to adult citizens (18 years and older) who are French nationals or hold a long-term residence permit in the Republic.

- **Clinical indications:** The patient must be diagnosed with an incurable disease in a terminal phase. A critically important condition is the presence of constant physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated by medical methods.

- **Mental capacity:** The applicant must possess full and clear consciousness both at the time of submitting the request and immediately before the procedure. Patients with severe cognitive impairments or those in a coma are excluded from the scope of the law.

### Implementation mechanism: from medical board to drug administration

The procedure cannot be initiated unilaterally. The realization of this right requires the mandatory participation of a collegial medical board. In the basic scenario, classified as assisted suicide, the drug prescribed by the doctor is taken by the patient independently.

However, legislators have provided for an exceptional scenario — active euthanasia with the direct administration of the drug by a medical professional. This format is permitted only in cases where the patient's physical condition (e.g., complete paralysis) makes self-administration of the medication impossible.

### Comparison with legal practice in Europe

The adoption of the law brings French legislation closer to the practice of several other European countries, although approaches within the EU still differ significantly. While active euthanasia has been permitted and widely practiced in the Netherlands and Belgium since 2002, it remains strictly prohibited by criminal law in Germany and Austria, despite the legalization of assisted suicide.

The United Kingdom currently maintains a complete ban on any form of assistance in ending life, rejecting liberalization projects. The new French law eliminates the previous conflict where citizens were forced to seek cross-border medical assistance by traveling to Belgium or Switzerland.

### Path to entry into force

The regulatory act is expected to be signed by President Emmanuel Macron. However, the mechanism itself will not begin functioning immediately. The law is scheduled to enter into force after the Ministry of Health completes the development of technical regulations, which is expected to happen by the end of 2026.

From the perspective of bioethics and European law, this step demonstrates the search for a balance between the human right to self-determination (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights) and the state's obligation to protect the lives of its citizens (Article 2 of the ECHR). As current realities show, this balance remains a subject of sovereign regulation for each individual Council of Europe member state.