Britain's Brown pushes for gay rights in Europe
(LONDON) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday he was pushing for gay civil partnerships in Britain to be recognised across the EU, especially in eastern Europe.
Brown told gay magazine Attitude that Britain was negotiating deals with France and Spain but wanted to extend recognition for civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples to eastern Europe.
"I'm fighting to get all the countries in Europe to recognise civil partnerships carried out in Britain," Brown told the January edition of the magazine, published on Wednesday.
"We want countries where that hasn't been the case - especially in eastern Europe - to recognise them."
"Of course it will be tough, and will take many years, but that has never ever been a good reason not to fight," he added.
Belgium, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands already have same-sex marriages, while civil partnerships are conducted in several EU countries including France and Germany. A law permitting civil partnerships is due to come into effect in Austria on January 1.
But discrimination against homosexuals is widespread in some EU countries, while street marches to promote gay rights have been met with violence, an EU report released in March said.
Britain enacted legislation in 2004 introducing civil partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples legal recognition of their relationships and allowing them the same rights in areas such as work, pensions and inheritance as heterosexual couples.
Brown's comments come ahead of a general election in Britain next year, in which the fight for the gay vote among the ruling Labour and main opposition parties is expected to be fierce.
Text and Picture Copyright 2009 AFP. All other Copyright 2009 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.
Recognition of Civil Partnerships in EU
2 July 2009 : Column WA67 Civil Partnerships Question Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 23 October 2008 (WA 119), whether, following the amendment to French law adopted by the Sénat on 28 April, parties to a civil partnership formed under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 will henceforth enjoy the same rights under French law as couples who have concluded a pacte civil de solidarité. [HL4636] The Minister for Europe (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The French Government have confirmed to us that, with effect from 14 May 2009 when the amendment passed into French law, parties to a civil partnership formed under the British Civil Partnership Act 2004 now enjoy equivalent legal status under French law to couples who have concluded a pacte civil de solidarité.
I also believe that the British CP has already been recognised in Spain. Why single out France and Spain when in fact the problem in these countries appear to be resolved without the help of Gordon Brown.