Brussels, 08/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Gender equality still has to make progress in Europe. Ahead of International Women's Day, the Employment and Social Affairs Council on Monday 7 March, rejected a package of conclusions on gender equality. This was because Hungary opposed the section on lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI).
The Belgian representative stated that “I have no choice but to deplore the fact that in 2016, equality for LGBTI continues to encounter resistance in the European Union… We could have been celebrating an historic day in the EU. This, however, was not the case and it is with a heavy heart that I have to acknowledge the very conservative attitude of some of my colleagues around the table. It is high time that the EU took more initiative in promoting the equality of LGBTI people at a regulatory level and in awareness campaigns”.
The conclusions were presented in the form of a package: request for a communication (rather than a working document) on gender equality and a response from the Council on the Commission action plan for LGBTI rights. They should have been adopted as a whole in the shape of Council conclusions. Moreover, during the discussions, Hungary said that it was unable to accept the text on the LGBTI, despite the recent changes made by the Dutch Presidency. Hungary stated that “Despite the efforts of the Presidency, we are unable to support these conclusions.… Since the beginning of the discussions, Hungary believes that this document affects a sensitive political issue and falls within the exclusive remit of member states, such as the family rights”. The country also explained that it had had a problem with the formulation retained by the Presidency and added that “the Council can only adopt conclusions if the EU 28 support them. We therefore need more time and also need to discuss the list of measures proposed by the Commission to make progress with equal treatment”. Poland indicated that it found it “difficult to accept these conclusions” before subsequently indicating that it would not, however, oppose them. The European Commission, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovenia, Finland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Greece and Portugal all criticised Hungary's attitude.
The list of measures proposed by the Commission on 7 December 2015 (see EUROPE 11448) are based on the following points: strengthening rights and guaranteeing the legal protection of LGBTI people and their families in areas of key Union competency: ensuring the robust follow-up on the rights enjoyed by LGBTI people and their families in Union law and ensuring that these rights are comprehensively protected; raising awareness among citizens and encouraging diversity and non-discrimination; supporting the main appropriate stakeholders in areas for the promotion and defence of equal rights for LGBTI people in the Union; compiling facts and figures for decision-makers on the difficulties confronting LGBTI in the context of enlargement, neighbourhood and third countries. The Council conclusions validated these priorities and called on the Commission “to take into account, for the end of 2016 and every following year, the progress accomplished in the implementation of its list of measures that help make progress on equal treatment for LGBTI people”.
Given the opposition from Hungary, the Dutch Presidency announced that it intended to revise the “Equality Strategy & LGBTI” so that it would be able to represent this in the form of “Presidency conclusions” during the Employment and Social Affairs Council in June. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)