Plenary summary: Anti-discrimination Directive, Roadmap, Hungary, Lithuania, Nigeria

This is is our first Plenary summary, a new series to briefly present resolutions adopted by Parliament’s monthly plenary session, and their implications for LGBT rights.

Resolutions presented in press releases won’t be included in Plenary summaries.

During its July 2013 plenary session, the European Parliament adopted resolutions mentioning the anti-discrimination directive, the LGBTI Roadmap, as well as LGBT rights in Hungary and Nigeria. MEPs also quizzed the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council about Baltic Pride.

Anti-discrimination Directive

For the eleventh time in the current legislature, the European Parliament told the Council it must discuss and adopt the proposed anti-discrimination directive (Paragraph 50 of the report on the impact of the crisis on access to care for vulnerable groups).

The five main political groups also held a press conference and issued a statement on the fifth anniversary of the proposal (2 July 2008).

LGBTI Roadmap

In its resolution on the Commission’s Work Programme for 2014 (Paragraph 67), the Parliament tells the EU executive it wants an EU-wide Roadmap against homophobia, a claim already issued several times by MEPs and national ministers. The Parliament already published a study on why this was needed, and will soon work on a longer report about such a roadmap.

Hungary

In a landmark report on fundamental rights in Hungary, the European Parliament noted with concern legal attempts to restrict LGBT rights, especially in the Constitution (Paragraph 53 of the report on the situation of fundamental rights: standards and practices in Hungary)

Nigeria

Nigeria’s new homophobic law was criticised by Parliament, with MEPs condemning the new law and calling on Nigeria to decriminalise homosexuality (Paragraphs 17 and 18 of the resolution on the situation in Nigeria)

Lithuania

MEPs also asked the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, why the Mayor of Vilnius refused to allow the Baltic Pride on 27 July.

On behalf of @ALDEgroup, @CeciliaWikstrom‎ asks the Lithuanian EU Presidency why #LGBT rights, including @BalticPride2013, face opposition.

— LGBTI Intergroup (@LGBTIintergroup) July 3, 2013

And now U. Lunacek criticises the ban of @BalticPride2013 in #Vilnius in the plenary chamber. Asks President @Grybauskaite_LT to weigh in.

— LGBTI Intergroup (@LGBTIintergroup) July 3, 2013

Pity that Lithuania's record on gay rights is so poor. No doubt its EU presidency will focus attention.

— Chris Davies (@ChrisDaviesEU) July 3, 2013

Image: European Parliament