Is the European Commission striking a heavy attack against marriage and family? On November 12, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the first “strategy on LGBTIQ equality in the EU” to combat alleged inequality and discrimination.
This five-year-plan contains several actions and initiatives on EU and member state level. Its goals are according to the European Commission „tackling discrimination; ensuring safety; building inclusive societies; and leading the call for LGBTIQ equality around the world“.
Helena Dalli, the EU-Commissioner for Equality, commented: „We are still a long way away from the full inclusion and acceptance that LGBTIQ people deserve. Together with the Member States, I trust we can make Europe a better and safer place for all. In this regard, the strategy calls on those Member States that do not have national LGBTIQ equality strategies to adopt one, addressing the specific equality needs of LGBTIQ people within their country.“
Family policy is not an EU issue
Dalli’s quote highlights the first problem with this new strategy: One of the three core principles of the European Union is subsidiarity. Therefore family policy has never been a part of the EU’s competences, but only of its member states. But with this „LGBTIQ strategy” the EU is exceeding its competences. It is intervening directly in the family policy of the member states.
For example, the Commission plans a „legislative initiative on the mutual recognition of parenthood” for „rainbow families”. Moreover there will be „measures to support the mutual recognition of same-gender partnership between Member States”.
This would contradict the recent planned constitutional amendments of the Hungarian government on marriage and family. But also with the laws of several other Eastern European states: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. In an interview with a German newspaper the Hungarian Minister of Justice Judit Varga already defended the government’s plans against the European Union. She stated clearly, „that parenthood is determined by certain biological facts”.
The conflicts between EU and Eastern Europe
Vera Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, said: „Family law is member states’ competence, we fully respect it. However, when applying national law, member states must respect their international human rights obligations and applicable EU law. Member States should also respect the fundamental values on which the Union is based, including equality and human rights.”
This situation might bear more conflicts for the near future. The European Commission does not want to fund any projects, which are not fully in line with this new „LGBTIQ Strategy”. There are already several disagreements between the European Commission and Eastern European states, as recently on the EU budget.
A risk for freedom of speech?
But moreover the „LGBTIQ Strategy” might also restrict extra-parliamentary pro-family initiatives: The European Commission plans on expanding the list of „EU crimes” and including „hate crimes and hate speech” against LGBTIQ. Furthermore the Commission wants to combat „anti-LGBTIQ online hate speech, disinformation”.
The problem with these anti-hate-speech laws is, that they can be abused to discredit any dissident or non-conformist voice in society. In this case, the power of interpreting these vague terms naturally lies with the EU. There is a risk for anyone, who advocates for traditional marriage and natural family, to be censored and prosecuted. A similar law is currently debated in Italy: The pro-family NGO ProVita & Famiglia warn of the law’s dangers for freedom of speech. Several Italian bishops also criticize the government’s plan.
Over 90,000 people criticize the „LGBTIQ Strategy”
In addition, the EU Commission wants to provide more financial support for LGBTIQ organizations and enforce the legal „recognition of trans and non-binary” in the member states. In international aid they want to support „actions for LGBTIQ equality”. The Commission even plans to integrate LGBTIQ equality into all EU policy areas.
These extensive measures by the EU Commission will certainly raise some more criticism in the European Parliament. Also by pro-family NGOs and Christian initiatives. So far over 90,000 people throughout Europe have already signed a corresponding CitizenGO petition to Ursula von der Leyen.
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