Our member organisation, the Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations (NELFA), has published its response to the European Commission’s new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. In its statement, NELFA welcomed the strategy as a positive continuation of the EU’s long-standing commitment to equality and human rights. The new framework builds on the first-ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (2020–2025), which marked a historic moment by firmly placing LGBTIQ rights on the European policy agenda.
NELFA highlighted that the previous strategy significantly raised the visibility of rainbow families and the persistent barriers they face across Europe, particularly when exercising their right to free movement. Years of advocacy by civil– society organisations, including NELFA and its members, led to the Commission’s clear acknowledgment that freedom of movement must apply equally to all families. As President Ursula von der Leyen memorably stated, “If you are a parent in one country, you are a parent in every country.”
Despite important legal advances, such as the landmark “Baby Sara” judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU, many families still experience serious obstacles in practice. Several Member States continue to refuse recognition of same-sex parenthood or family ties established elsewhere in the Union, leaving the promise of equal mobility far from realised.
In responding to the new Strategy, NELFA noted that it once again sets the right direction. It outlines ambitious goals, reaffirms the EU’s commitment to non-discrimination, and recognises the diversity of families across Europe. However, NELFA also expressed concern that the strategy remains non-binding. Without enforcement mechanisms, sanctions, or concrete legal obligations, implementation depends largely on national political will. This is a fragile basis at a time when anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and legislative backsliding are gaining ground in parts of the EU.
NELFA therefore calls on the European Commission, the European Parliament, and all Member States to ensure that the principles of equality and mutual recognition are upheld not only in policy documents, but in everyday reality. Every family should be able to live, move, and thrive freely within the Union, without discrimination or uncertainty.
