The European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s new LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030 (see EUROPE 13726/1), but notes that the text does not fully address the issues facing the communities concerned.
In a press release published on Wednesday 8 October – the day on which the new strategy was presented – the intergroup acknowledges a number of advances, such as the examination of a legislative initiative to harmonise the definition of online hate crimes, the confirmation of the directive on parenthood (see EUROPE 13599/14) and the doubling of the budget for civil society organisations to 3.6 billion euros via the AgoraEU programme, but it also notes a number of shortcomings.
“This strategy does too little to improve the lived experience of our most vulnerable groups, in particular the trans- and intersex community”, said the intergroup’s co-president, Kim van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, Dutch).
She therefore regrets that this community is mentioned only marginally, and that the issue of bans on ‘pride marches’, as in Hungary, Budapest and Pécs, is not addressed explicitly enough.
Marc Angel (S&D, Luxembourger), also co-president, called on the Commission to go beyond “language”, which he considered too “vague”, and to present precise legislative proposals, an effective follow-up to the study on conversion practices and a genuine consideration of situations of intersectionality.
To this end, the intergroup affirms that it will remain mobilised to ensure that the next phase of European policy on LGBTIQ+ rights leads to effective implementation. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)