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A resolution which will be discussed in the European Parliament in the coming weeks is calling on the Commission to pronounce itself on the free movement of legally recognised gay couples in Europe.
The Maltese government has already pronounced itself against recognising same-sex marriages celebrated abroad in Malta.
MEPs are expected to vote on British socialist MEP Claude Moraes’s report on “protection of minorities and anti-discrimination policies in an enlarged Europe” in the coming weeks possibly in the next plenary session in Strasbourg.
Malta Gay Rights Movement spokesperson Christian Attard urged all five Maltese MEPs to support the resolution. “It is yet another instance of the strong and consistent commitment of the European Parliament towards fundamental and minority rights, including the rights of Europe’s sexual minorities.”
Contacted by MaltaToday, Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil (EPP) said the contentious paragraphs in this resolution “have already been brought to (his) attention and so have the proposed amendments.”
He said that he is still considering the implications of the paragraphs and will inform MaltaToday on how he will vote in “due course.”
Paragraph 24 of this report calls for action against growing homophobia and notes with concern the making of hate-filled comments by religious and political leaders.
Christian Attard said stemming the tide of homophobia is also important in Malta. “We had an example of homophobia locally just last week in the form of a press release from the Archbishop calling relations between persons of the same sex as unnatural, against God’s law, and destructive of the social fabric.”
Significantly this paragraph calls on the Commission to come forward with a communication on obstacles to free movement in the EU for married or legally recognised gay couples.
According to the MGRM the most important problem for the lesbian, gay and transgender community is the current restrictions on the free movement for homosexual couples.
EU citizens with a different sexual orientation are still encountering problems in being joined by their partners in the Member State in which they move if the host Member State does not recognise same-sex couples under its domestic legislation.
“This is unacceptable from the point of view of equality and citizenship rights,” Attard said. “Family reunification is necessary in order to facilitate worker mobility across Europe, and it is utterly ridiculous that the current law deems it necessary to give the right to the worker to be joined by his parents, but the same is not true for the same-sex partner.”
Paragraph 22 of the report also calls on Member States and the accession and candidate countries to ensure full religious freedom and equal rights for all religions. It also adds the fact that freedom of religion does not justify discrimination, for example in the field of education.
Critics of this report have pointed out that paragraph 22 purports that religious organisations may no longer have the freedom to choose to work with employees sharing the same moral convictions.
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