During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate on the declaration of the EU as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) Freedom Zone: opening statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

fight for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (T)

fight against racism and xenophobia (T)

DALLI, Helena (MT, EC)

ZACARIAS, Ana Paula (PT)

Declaration of the EU as an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone: opening statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

SOUNDBITE (Original), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (NI, IT), chair, So we're now moving on with our agenda. The next item on today's agenda is the Council and Commission statements on declaring the EU as an LGBTIQ freedom zone. I'll remind my colleagues in the House that today's debates will not allow for any catch the contributions and there will be no so-called blue card questions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (NI, IT), chair, And there will also be remote connexions from the European Parliament liaison offices in all member states. On behalf of the Council, I'll give the floor back to the secretary of state, Ms. Zacarias.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mr President, Honourable Members, Commissioner Dalli, thank you for the invitation to this debate on the declaration of the EU as an LGBTIQ freedom zone. This subject is essential to so many of our citizens who suffer discrimination and hatred because of their sexual orientation. Let me be very clear from the start. There should be no place for homophobia anywhere in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Sexual orientation and gender identity are aspects of who we are, and no one should be feeling the need to conceal their true selves in order to avoid discrimination, hate or even violence. In recent decades, progress has been made on LGBTI rights, but more remains to be done. Unfortunately, discrimination against LGBTI persons persists when they look for housing, when they seek health care or social services, and also at work or in school.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, All citizens of our Union are equal and should be able to live in freedom, safe from discrimination based on their sex, race, colour, religion or sexual orientations. These are principles and values solemnly enshrined in the EU treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU legislation. They are not up for negotiation. Our common European commitment to decency, tolerance and equal treatment is the very foundation of the idea of the just society.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, The EU, imperfect as it is, is still a beacon of hope for many across the globe. We must make sure that the example we set is a good one. This means building a society where our citizens feel free to be who they are and to enjoy equal opportunities and participate, fully contribute and prosper in our society. The most recent survey of the fundamental rights agency has shown that as many as 43 percent LGBTI persons feel discriminated against.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, One in 10 LGBTI respondents were physically or sexually attacked, and transgender and intersex respondents experienced attacks at a higher rate. What makes matters even worse is the fact that most of this unjustice go unreported. Overall, across the EU, only 11 percent of discrimination suffered, and only a small percentage of hate driven incidents are reported.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Europe still has a long way to go before real equality is achieved. The covid-19 crisis has had a disproportionate impact on more vulnerable groups, including LGBTIQ community, leading to more inequalities and violence. The Portuguese presidency attaches great importance to the inclusion of LGBTI persons in our society and will not spare its efforts in pursuing that goal.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, We count on the measures announced by the Commission in the first ever LGBTIQ equality strategy presented last November and which was discussed then in December. Next week, the council ministers will be invited to debate on legislative and political measures to ensure concrete progress towards equality, non-discrimination and diversity in the EU and its member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, And where appropriate, we will continue to discuss the matters on the framework of the general rule of law mechanism. We would like to see equality becoming a reality, for example, for families who can face difficulties and hurdles when seeking to exercise their right to freedom of movement within the EU. The presidency is planning to organise an event on May 14 to commemorate the International Day event against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, We acknowledge the initiative to declare the EU as an LGBTIQ freedom zone. Let us continue to work together towards this goal by doing everything we can to protect persons from being discriminated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to ensure across Europe that they can enjoy equality in their daily lives. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Honourable members allow me to dedicate this debate to Benjamin, my first grandson born two hours ago. Dear Benjamin. May you live in a hate free Europe, may you live in a humane Europe, and may you live in a Europe where you will have the best chance in life to be all that you can be.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I am really grateful for this debate and opportunity to speak to you about LGBTIQ people's rights and freedoms. TheCommission welcomes and supports the European Parliament's intention to declare the EU an LGBTIQ freedom zone. During her State of the Union address in September, 2020, President Ursula von der Leyen stated in this house that she will not rest when it comes to building a Union of equality, a Union where you can be who you are and love who you want without fear of recrimination or discrimination.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I share her vision of a European Union where LGBTIQ people are fully free to be themselves throughout their life course without exception. Where they can love who they want and build their families without other considerations, such as their fear of negative reactions by loved ones or societal discrimination, and where no considerations related to societal attitudes or administrative burdens enter into the equation of whether to freely move to another EU country or not.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, This is not reality yet, but we intend to get there. Right now, many European citizens are deprived of enjoying their full set of freedoms. In some EU countries, LGBTIQ people have come under increasing attack by politicians, religious leaders and other public figures. This has led to increased scapegoating of LGBTIQ persons who are, for instance, framed as a threat to children.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The EU must be a freedom zone for all of us, without exception. This is why the Commission adopted the first ever LGBTIQ equality strategy last November. Our strategy aims to ensure that LGBTIQ people are safe and have equal opportunities to participate fully in society and thus reach their full potential. The Commission has started implementing this new strategy to guarantee that each measure included in it will materialise in the coming five years.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The Commission shares your vision of an EU where people in all their diversity and regardless of their personal characteristics, live together in harmony. Where they are free to pursue their life regardless of their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their gender expression or their sex characteristics. What they are equal, be they lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, trans, non binary, cis, gender intersex or queer.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, As part of this work, the situation in all member states will continue to be monitored closely to make sure that the principle of non-discrimination is fully respected when implementing EU law and EU funded projects. One of the main messages of the commission's LGBTIQ strategy is that LGBTIQ discrimination needs to be addressed at all levels and that progress depends on all stakeholders working together.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I thank the European Parliament for its commitment to making the EU shared values of equality and freedom a reality for all. Together, we can break down barriers to LGBTIQ equality. I thank you.