MEPs urge Council to protect rainbow children’s rights to their parents

Today, Members of the European Parliament voted on the Report on the Regulation for cross-border recognition of parenthood, which urges the European Council to adopt the regulation with unanimity. Though the number of rainbow families is increasing, they continue to face discrimination, most especially when exercising their free movement rights in the EU. The Greens/EFA Group has long advocated for the protection of the rights of the child, and of Rainbow Families, as they pertain to cross border situations in particular. It is necessary that these rights are recognised by all Member States, a recognition which must be reflected by the creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood. 

Sergey Lagodinsky MEP, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur for the Regulation for cross-border recognition of parenthood in the Legal Affairs Committee, comments: 

“It is the duty of Member States to protect and safeguard the rights of the child. These  fundamental rights include the right of each child to have a family, and the right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of their parents’ marital status or sexual orientation, or the way the child was conceived. The barriers that Rainbow Families across Europe face to free cross-border movement is a contravention of these rights: there are still eleven Member States in which same-sex couples are unable to attain legal parenthood, which in turn impacts the rights of rainbow families travelling or moving to these countries. We must act to ensure that children and parental rights in Rainbow Families are recognised in each and every Member State, otherwise we risk undermining the fundamental rights of parents as well as children.”

Kim van Sparrentak, Greens/EFA MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTIQ rights, comments:

“We Greens/EFA welcome the passing of this vote in the European Parliament, which calls on the European Council to adopt this regulation with unanimity. Every family must be equal under European law, and it is imperative that this includes Rainbow Families. Impinging upon the free movement of parents can have damaging and distressing consequences: some parents cannot travel with their children as crossing a national border could mean they lose their legal bond with their child. This can lead to familial separation or children being deprived of the medical help they need in another country. This is unacceptable and the Council must act to bring an end to this and ensure Rainbow families enjoy the same rights as other families.”