Debate: Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy -
Date: WEDNESDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

In April 2023, the Commission published a progress report presenting numerous actions undertaken to implement this strategy at the EU level in the period up to February 2023. The mid-term report will also reflect on opinions of stakeholders provided through an extensive consultation process, including Member States and civil society organisations. The Commission plans to adopt it in the second quarter of 2024. Your implementation report and your reflections today will also be an important contribution to this process.  Since its adoption, the strategy has contributed to improving many people’s lives and to build more equal and welcoming societies for LGBTIQ people. The strategy has been implemented using intersectionality as a cross-cutting principle. Sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and or sex characteristics have been considered alongside other personal characteristics or identities such as sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion, belief, disability, and age. According to a Eurobarometer survey in 2023, compared to 2019 Europeans now are more likely to feel comfortable having a lesbian, gay or bisexual colleague: 75 %. That is three points higher than in 2019. Or if one of their children is in a same sex relationship: 59 %, which is four points higher. Although these figures are still lower when it comes to trans and intersex people.  A growing number of Member States are stepping up their commitment for LGBTIQ equality in accordance with the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. 12 of them have in place dedicated LGBTIQ action plans or strategies, and a growing number of Member States are working to adopt their first ever national LGBTIQ Action Plans, in line with the Commission’s strategy and the guidelines prepared by the LGBTIQ equality subgroup, building our Union of equality on strong national foundations.  Also, more Member States are introducing human rights based legal gender recognition procedures, strengthening the recognition and protection for same sex couples and rainbow families, and extending the scope of protection from discrimination to gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.  While these are important steps forward, ongoing backlashes are a reminder that progress towards LGBTIQ equality can be very fragile. Our Eurobarometer survey also showed that in 2023, 54 % of all respondents thought that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is widespread in their country, compared to 53 % in 2019. This percentage rises to 57 % in relation to being a transgender person, which is a 9 % increase, and 47 % say that discrimination against intersex persons is widespread. An 8 % increase. According to ILGA-Europe’s 2023 annual review, 2022 was the most violent year for LGBTQI people across the region in the past decade, both through planned attacks and through suicides in the wake of rising and widespread hate speech.  So even in countries where social acceptance is higher, certain political forces increased their efforts to curtail LGBTIQ rights, fuelling violence and hate against LGBTIQ people for political gain. Against the surge in violence and discrimination, the EU has not hesitated to act. We remain vigilant and continue working with Member States, civil society organisations and other institutions to uphold the human rights of LGBTIQ people through the implementation of our LGBTIQ equality strategy.  The Commission continues monitoring the implementation of EU law in Member States, and we do not hesitate to take action, of course, as you know, including initiating infringement procedures in case the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people are violated.  The hatred we have recently seen is a risk for our societies and for our democracy. We cannot accept that people are prevented from playing their full part due to how they look, what they believe, who they love, or where they come from. We are determined to combat hatred, scapegoating, and the denigration of any person due to their racial and ethnic origin, their faith, their gender, or their sexuality. And December 2023, the Commission and the High Representative adopted a joint communication on ‘No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred’, which aims to step up EU efforts to fight hatred in all its forms, including LGBTIQ people, of course.