Barroso II Commission – Catherine Ashton: An ally in the global movement for LGBT rights
Between the 11th and 19th January 2010, the European Parliament is conducting 3-hour interviews with European Commissioner-Designates. This exercise of democratic scrutiny allows Members of the European Parliament to raise issues related to Commissioner-Designates’ portfolios, relay civil society’s concerns to future Commissioners, and secure commitments from Commissioner-Designates for their five years in office.
During the hearings of European Commissioner-Designates by the European Parliament, the Intergroup on LGBT Rights is releasing short bulletins on issues relevant to LGBT rights raised during the top-level interviews of future Commissioners.
Today, the Parliament heard Baroness Catherine Ashton (United Kingdom), High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Lady Ashton received the Stonewall Politician of the Year award in 2006 for her positive record on LGBT rights.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented after the hearing: “When it comes to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, I’m under the impression that Catherine Ashton is very willing to listen to both people and organisations in the countries she’ll visit.” Ms Lunacek continued: “Be it through quiet diplomacy or in public, she is clearly willing to talk about it. If the European Parliament approves her along with the other Commissioners later this month, she will be an asset to the global movement on LGBT rights”.
