Plenary summary: 2021 report on Montenegro and implementation of inclusion measures within Erasmus +
During its June II plenary session, the European Parliament Plenary debated and voted on some files that relate to the human rights of LGBTI persons:
- 2021 Commission Report on Montenegro – Committee in Foreign Affairs (AFET)
- The implementation of inclusion measures within Erasmus+ 2014-2020 – Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
- (Note: For a complete list of all texts (and specific paragraphs) in this legislature touching upon LGBTI issues, check our List of resources available here.)
2021 Commission Report on Montenegro
On Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament debated the 2021 Commission Report on Montenegro(rapporteur: Tonino Picula, S&D). The report was adopted on Thursday.
The report welcomed Montenegro’s continued commitment to European integration and the unwavering support of its citizens for membership of the EU, underlining that progress in the negotiations continues to depend on meeting the rule of law interim benchmarks. On LGBTIQ topics, it added:
- 44. Welcomes progress on the protection and promotion of LGBTIQ rights and the first same-sex registered partnership in July 2021, and the peaceful organisation of Pride in 2021; calls on Montenegro to continue to harmonise and amend other laws and bylaws, in particular on social benefits and residence, in order to fully implement the law on registered partnership; calls for further measures against hate speech, social exclusion and discrimination of the LGBTIQ community […]
- 45. Calls on Montenegro to properly include LGBTIQ civil society in the work of the new legal gender recognition working group, which should work towards legal gender recognition based on self-determination;
Watch the plenary debate here.
The implementation of inclusion measures within Erasmus+ 2014-2020
On Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament debated the report on The implementation of inclusion measures within Erasmus+ 2014-2020 (rapporteur: Laurence Farreng, Renew Europe). The report was adopted on Thursday.
The report noted with satisfaction the overall positive perception of how inclusion measures have developed over the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 programming period. It highlighted that Erasmus+ should support stakeholders’ and programme participants’ internationalisation plans that contribute to the removal of the physical, psychological, social, socio-economic, linguistic, digital and other barriers to learning mobility and European projects, offering clear and detailed information and qualitative support for participants from under-represented groups and those with specific needs.
On LGBTIQ issues, it stated:
- 25. Welcomes the projects that promote and raise awareness of sexual diversity and encourage respect for LGBTIQ+ people, and calls on the Commission to create genuine links between the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and the Erasmus+ programme;
Watch the plenary debate here.
