On Friday 5 August, the European Commission finally adopted its roadmap on the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex individuals (LGBTI).
This comes more than six moths after the text was unveiled, due to reluctance expressed by a number of member states (see EUROPE 11507).
In the document, the Commission pledges to introduce a series of actions to advance equality for LGBTI over the period 2016-2019. The action covers domains in which such individuals may have problems, such as healthcare, education, employment, asylum and free movement. The roadmap also mentions information campaigns about LGTBI rights to positively change European citizens’ views, and financial support for activist associations in this domain or private individuals involved in these projects.
The roadmap was unveiled at the Employment and Social Affairs Council of 7 December 2015 (see EUROPE 11448). The Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2016 then presented conclusions on the text in March 2016, but they were rejected by Hungary on the grounds of an attack on its sovereignty. Budapest finally lifted its reservations after a number of measures were reformulated and national powers in this domain were confirmed.
Commenting on official adoption of the roadmap, Justice and Equality Commissioner Věra Jourová said that with the increasing levels of discrimination, political decision-makers must be more present to protect the rights of the most vulnerable groups in society and that the Commission’s campaign must help improve equity, social acceptance and equal rights for LGBTI people in Europe. It will involve stakeholders at all levels, from NGOs to national authorities via the media. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)