Press release: Route of EuroPride march is officially banned – MEPs call for a compromise solution
Brussels, 13 September 2022
On 13 September, the Serbian police announced an official ban on the route of the EuroPride march, scheduled for Saturday, 17 September. The move follows previous comments by the Serbian President, who said in a press conference that EuroPride would be cancelled or postponed.
The ban was announced amid international outcry calling on the Serbian leadership to fulfil its commitment to the EuroPride organisers and Belgrade Pride. The LGBTI Intergroup will still attend EuroPride 2022 with a delegation counting on a dozen MEPs.
Terry Reintke MEP (Greens-EFA), Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup, comments:
We regret the decision taken by the Serbian police to ban the route of the EuroPride march. We have been in constant contact in the last weeks with the Serbian authorities calling for political willingness in finding a solution that ensures all demonstrators’ security – despite this fallback, we maintain that negotiations must carry on in the direction of finding a result which validates the efforts and goodwill of the organisers and that presents an acceptable solution to the government. We insist that all efforts must be employed to find a compromise solution.
Marc Angel MEP (S&D Group), Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup, concludes:
The banning of the route of EuroPride march is received as a disappointment, although it does not have to be one. We have urged authorities to liaise, to negotiate and to agree on a compromise, which to this point was clear: a shorter, secure route, enshrining the principles of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We repeat: these rights must be ensured for those defending them and we maintain trust that a solution will be found. We urge authorities to put all focus on a credible solution to be proposed to the organisers.
Background information:
The comments by the Serbian President generated international criticism regretting the decision or calling on a solution to allow the event to take place.
On 31 August, a joint letter was addressed by 145 Members of the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup to the Serbian President and Prime-Minister urging for a solution to be found.[1]
Press contacts:
Office of Terry Reintke MEP – Katrin Matthaei (Katrin.Matthaei@europarl.europa.eu)
Office of Marc Angel MEP – Daniel Constantinides (Daniel.Constantinides@europarl.europa.eu)
[1] LGBTI Intergroup (31 August 2022), “145 MEPs sign letter to Serbian leadership calling to maintain the organisation of EuroPride 2022 and deploying sufficient police protection”, accessible at https://lgbti-ep.eu/2022/08/31/140-meps-sign-letter-to-serbian-leadership-calling-to-maintain-the-organisation-of-europride-2022-and-deploying-sufficient-police-protection/.
