Live event: Free movement of same-sex families in the EU

Today in Brussels, the ALDE Group and the Intergroup on LGBT Rights are co-hosting a seminar on Free movement of same-sex families in the EU. This is a highly topical issue: what rights do EU citizens lose or retain while moving between Member States? how far can EU and national laws go in protecting citizens’ rights? what do Member States and the Commission have to say on the matter?

This seminar will present the issue in details, provide testimonies of discrimination that have a European dimension, discuss existing European legislation and regulations, and examine existing gaps in the legislation. Speakers and participants include Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and non-governmental organisations including ILGA-Europe.

Live coverage

Click here for standalone Windows Media player
(PC: Internet Explorer/Windows Media Player required; Mac: Safari required)
(Streaming will not display on European Parliament computers)

Programme

14:00 – 14:15 Introduction

• Sophie in ‘t Veld Member of the European Parliament (bio)

14:15 – 15:15 Freedom of movement for same-sex families and EU competences

• Kaisa Finnish citizen in a cross-border same-sex family
• Helen Toner Associate Professor, Warwick University School of Law (bio)
  
• Salla Saastamoinen Head of Unit, Judicial co-operation in civil matters, Directorate-General Justice, European Commission (link)
  
• Pál Szirányi Counsellor for Judicial co-operation in civil matters, Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU (link)
  

Chair:   Sophie in ‘t Veld, Member of the European Parliament

15:15 – 16:15 What solutions against discrimination?

• Silvan Agius Policy Director, ILGA-Europe (bio)
  
• Ben Baks International LGBT Policy Officer, Government of the Netherlands (link)
  
• Emma Reed Head of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Equality, Equalities Office, Government of the United Kingdom (link)
  

Chair:   Ulrike Lunacek, Member of the European Parliament

16:15 – 16:30 Concluding remarks

• Claude Moraes MEP Civil Liberties Coordinator, Socialists & Democrats (bio)
  
• Cecilia Wikström MEP Civil Liberties Coordinator (acting), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (bio)
  
• Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP Civil Liberties Coordinator, Greens/European Free Alliance (bio)
  

Chair:   Sophie in ‘t Veld, Member of the European Parliament