Europe LGBTQ rights

The European Parliament last week adopted a resolution on the Multi-annual programme 2010-2014 regarding the area of freedom, security and justice, known as the Stockholm programme. By adopting this text, the European Parliament is calling on Member States "without prejudice to national legislation on family law, to ensure freedom of movement for EU citizens and their families, including both registered partnerships and marriages" in accordance with EU legislation, and "to avoid all kinds of discrimination on any ground, including sexual orientation" (paragraph 31).

On 14 October 2009, the European Commission published its 2009 Progress Reports on the countries which applied for the EU membership – Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

The Lithuanian parliament voted on Tuesday to adopt a controversial law that institutionalises homophobia.

Members of Poland’s gay community have held a march calling for more freedom and equal rights.

Today,2 June 2009, the Lithuanian Parliament, the Seimas, will vote on an amendment to the Law on the Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effects of Public Information aimed at banning access to information on homosexuality and bisexuality.

Bulgarian MPs on the National Commission for Community and Medias have suggested forbidding gay lobbying activities, stating that they erode Bulgarian "social ethics". They suggest a ban on the vindication of gay marriages, homosexual co-habitation and adoption of children by gay couples.