Discussed LGBTIQ+ strategy with Commissioner Lahbib

Due to EU’s current work on a renewed LGBTIQ+ strategy, President of EPPride, Helge Ytterøy L’orange and First Vice President of EPPride Gerben Horst, together with the leadership of LGBTI Liberals of Europe, met with EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib last week.

‘The work on the renewed strategy in the LGBTIQ+ area is well underway. EPPride naturally participated in the open hearing in June. At the same time, it is incredibly important to have a direct dialogue with the responsible Commissioner,’ says EPPride president Helge Ytterøy L’orange.

He says that his centre-right LGBTIQ+ network joined forces with the liberal LGBTI+ network to reach out to the Commissioner: ‘Commissioner Lahbib comes from the Belgian Liberal Party, and through a joint effort it became easier to reach out. In addition, we have many common positions with the Liberals in this area, so cooperation is quite natural.’

Well defined priorities

‘From our side, we have established clear priorities. At the overall level, it is important for us that the EU Commission makes it clear that EU is a union of values, where respect for and protection of human rights – including LGBTIQ+ rights – must be non-negotiable. Secondly, The Commission must firmly reject the notion that being LGBTIQ+ is an ideology. Recognizing individuals means acknowledging the full spectrum of human characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity,’ says L’orange.

This, along with 6 prioritised areas, was handed over to the EU Commissioner by L’orange and EPPride in a separate memorandum with a view to further work on the LGBTIQ+ strategy.

In the meeting, the liberal LGBTI network, through their president, German Michael Kauch, raised, among other things, the need to ensure rainbow families have equal rights throughout the EU. He pointed out, among other things, that this will ensure rainbow families the fundamental right to free movement in the EU. The liberal president also addressed the EU’s responsibility to protect vulnerable refugees, including LGBTIQ+ refugees, and not least that the EU must promote LGBTIQ+ rights in international forums.

‘Here we in EPPride are completely in line with the liberal network, so we are happy that they raised this in the meeting with the Commissioner.’ EPPride First Vice President Horst adds: ‘We also addressed, among other things, the need for the EU to contribute to member states finding good bans on conversion therapy and ensuring exchange of experiences related to safe meeting places for young people.’

Positive response

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib expressed her pleasure and interest in the engagement, and herself pointed out the importance of improving the legal framework for both rainbow families and improving the legal framework for people who are not married or have entered into partnerships. Preferably following the model from Belgium or the gender-neutral cohabitation regulations Norway introduced in 1983, which were also addressed in the meeting.

The EU Commissioner also pointed out that the new Commission has now tightened up on countries that do not follow up on fundamental treaties. She said the Commission has now changed the funding regulations, so that they can not only withhold funds, but de facto reprioritize them, so that authorities that do not comply with EU regulations really lose their funds. According to the EU Commissioner, this means that funds can be released to strengthen non-governmental organizations that work for human rights in these areas.

‘The EU Commissioner is very well updated and with clear priorities within the LGBTIQ+ area. This is important for the upcoming work. At the same time, it is challenging to navigate through an LGBTIQ+ plan both in the Commission itself and in the European Parliament. We probably cannot expect to get all our priorities through. At the same time, we hope that our clear overall messages will be implemented,’ conclude EPPride President Helge Ytterøy L’orange and First Vice President Gerben Horst.

EPPride, The LGBTIQ+ network EPP

LGBTI Liberals of Europe

  • A part of ALDE, the liberal party family in Europe
  • 15 member organisations from liberal parties in 13 countries
  • https://lgbti-liberals.eu/

Participants in the meeting with Commissioner Lahbib

EPPride                   LGBTI Liberals of Europe

Helge L’orange      Michael Kauch
President                President

Gerben Horst         Sabine Bauckhage
Vice President       Vice President

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