The first European strategy for the rights of LGBTIQ people, presented by the Commission earlier this month (see EUROPE 12600/23), has received a particularly warm welcome in the European Parliament.
The text was welcomed in plenary on Wednesday 25 November by all the political groups, with the exception of the ECR and ID groups, whose coordinators Nicola Procaccini (ECR, Italy) and Simona Baldassare (ID, Italy) expressed a certain irritation, regretting the Commission’s interest in the matter.
The other coordinators and many MEPs, however, welcomed an ambitious plan, long awaited by LGBTIQ rights organisations and LGBTIQ citizens themselves.
Referring in particular to the establishment in several Polish localities of “LGBT ideology-free zones” (see EUROPE 12499/26), many felt that it was time for action.
“Let’s make Europe the biggest LGBTI-welcome zone”, said Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew Europe, the Netherlands), to the applause of most of the MEPs physically present in the Chamber.
While she welcomed the Commission’s willingness to present two new legislative initiatives, Ms in ‘t Veld called on the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, to ensure that certain existing provisions, which would already allow progress to be made, were properly applied.
Mutual recognition of parenthood
In particular, most of the groups welcomed the Commission’s willingness to ensure that the relationships between LGBTIQ parents and their children are recognised from one Member State to another. This is far from being the case today and hinders the freedom of movement of many European citizens (see EUROPE 12599/22).
“We cannot pick and choose the family that we protect”, stressed Maria Walsh (EPP, Ireland).
Welcoming in turn the promise of a legislative proposal on this issue by 2022, Marc Angel (S&D, Luxembourg), for his part, said it was, however, “regrettable that the commitment on mutual recognition of same gender partnerships in Member States is softer”.
Finally, both Walsh and in ‘t Veld called on their colleagues and all EU institutions to support “an EU-wide ban on conversion therapy” (see EUROPE 12579/32), a practice Ms Walsh described as “clearly destructive, disgusting” and contrary to the fundamental values of the EU. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)