During the plenary session (23-26 November) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the Abortion rights in Poland. Closing statements by Council and Commission. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Abortion rights in Poland: Closing statements by Council and Commission

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Thank you all for this debate. If I were to compress what the majority in this room said in five words. It's: women's rights are human rights, and we are certainly on the same page. But I want to I want to close this debate by remembering the first woman president of this parliament, Simone Veil, who envisioned a Europe where women's rights were not questioned, let alone curtailed.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, This is a vision that we still need to fulfil, and I pay homage to her and her legacy and hope that we can find inspiration in her work at the European level and as French health minister, I thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), chair, Thank you, Commissioner Dalli. Now this debate ends and we will vote on that tomorrow. Then our next item on the agenda, council and commission statements, the new LGBTIQ equality strategy. I would like to inform all members that for all debates, also this one, we will not be granting any catch the eye procedures and we do not accept blue cards. Furthermore, remote interventions from Parliament's Liaison Offices are also possible, and that seems to be working better and better. So now the floor goes to Commissioner Dalli. She can present the new commission strategy. The floor is yours.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Thank you, honourable members. Thank you for having included this debate in the plenary agenda. Since the founding of the European Union, its member states have intensified their efforts to build societies based on shared values of human rights, equality and non-discrimination. In responses to increasing societal pressure to ensure equal rights for all, we have made some progress over the years in fighting discrimination and in advancing equality and inclusion of LGBTQ people in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, However, we still have a long way to go. Today in the EU, too many LGBTIQ people cannot be themselves without fear of discrimination, exclusion or violence. In 2019, 43 percent of LGBTIQ people felt discriminated against. In 2012, this figure was lower at 37 percent. All of this takes place in a climate of growing opposition against the protection of LGBTIQ rights and the global pandemic, which has compounded existing inequalities for LGBTIQ people.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, So the European Commission is taking a strong stand for European diversity by launching the first ever LGBTIQ equality strategy as part of the Union of Equalities strategic approach. The LGBTIQ equality strategy will help to build a Union where people in all their diversity are equal. Where they can be themselves without risk of discrimination, exclusion or violence.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, To achieve this vision, the LGBTIQ strategy presents the Commission's key actions and objectives for the coming five years around four pillars. So tackling discrimination, ensuring safety, building inclusive society societies and leading the call for LGBTIQ equality around the world. Several member states do not have laws to punish hate crime and hate speech against LGBTIQ people.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The Commission's new strategy announces the initiative to extend the list of EU crimes to cover hate crime and hate speech, including one targeted at LGBTIQ people. Due to legal differences across member states, Rainbow families continue to struggle to have their family ties recognised when they cross the EU's internal borders, despite the differences in national legislation, the commission will push for mutual recognition of family relations in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, As the president said in her State of the Union speech. When you are a parent, you are a parent everywhere. And in order to improve legal certainty for EU citizens exercising their free movement rights, the Commission will review the 2009 guidelines on free movement. The reviewed guidelines will the diversity of families and hence contribute to facilitating the exercise of future of free movement rights for all families, including, of course, rainbow families.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, To realise the strategies' objectives, the Commission will harness all tools that are at its disposal. Targeted actions will be combined with enhanced equality mainstreaming. LGBTIQ people, like all other groups, are not a homogenous group, which is why intersexual action will be used as a crosscutting principle throughout the implementation of the strategy.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Furthermore, EU actions to advance LGBTIQ equality need to be matched by sustained efforts at all levels, which is why we are calling for LGBTIQ equality strategy in all the 27 EU member states. So I really look forward to your debate and your presence on this strategy. Thank you.

Data dell'evento	25/11/2020
Riferimento:	I199146V
Formato:	16:9 format
Copyright:	© European Union
copyrightYear:	2020

Abortion rights in Poland: Closing statements by Council and Commission

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