Equality for lesbians and gay men- a relevant issue in EU accession process

This report, from 2001, maps the legal and social situation of lesbians and gay men in 13 candidate countries to EU accession.

Three years after the publication of the “Equality Report” on the situation of lesbians and gay men in the EU Member States, ILGA-Europe has produced the current report, “Equality for Lesbians and Gay Men – A Relevant Issue in the EU Accession Process”, with a view to filling the information gap regarding the situation for lesbians and gay men in the candidate countries. The report was produced as part of the project “Lesbian and Gay People in Candidate Countries to EU Membership”. 

All 13 accession countries are represented with individual reports: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey. A further chapter presents the European Union’s legislation and policies that are relevant to the rights of lesbians and gays in the accession countries, policies which have developed very significantly in the recent past.

See also

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ILGA-Europe, Bilitis, Deystvie and TGEU – Trans Europe and Central Asia welcome the Bulgarian Supreme Court’s decisions as overdue and a great relief to trans people in Bulgaria.  At the […]
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Joint statement of solidarity with Oradea Pride, Romania

According to information that has appeared in the public sphere1, local authorities in Oradea intend to reject all the routes proposed by the Pride organisers, […]
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Report

EU Enlargement Review 2026

The EU’s enlargement process has leverage and needs to be fully used to support the adoption of important legislation protecting the fundamental rights of LGBTI […]
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Our submission to the EC 2026 Rule of Law report

The submission touches upon rule of law issues faced by LGBTI persons, human rights defenders and organisations such as: 2025 saw a rapid escalation of […]
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Infringement ruling tests whether Magyar will Put pro-EU commitments into practice

Europe’s highest court has ruled Hungary’s anti-LGBT law violates EU Treaties, multiple EU laws and the EU Charter. For the first time in the history […]
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Joint Statement: Alarming escalation in repression of LGBTI+ activists and organisations in Türkiye

The undersigned European and national human rights organisations express deep concern at the December court ruling in Türkiye shutting down LGBTI+ youth organisation, Genç LGBTİ+, […]
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Romanian court victory confirms recognition of trans identities across the EU

Romanian court confirms obligation to recognise gender identity registered in another EU member state, following landmark Court of Justice of the European Union ruling. Today, […]
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Poland: Supreme Administrative Court confirms EU law obligation to recognise same-sex marriages concluded abroad

On 20 March 2026, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court issued a landmark ruling implementing an earlier CJEU judgment and confirming that the refusal to transcribe same-sex […]
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Landmark CJEU ruling demands Member States to ensure legal gender recognition to guarantee freedom of movement

Today’s judgment by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) says all member states must provide for legal gender recognition procedures allowing their citizens […]
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Podcast

The Frontline: Lessons from Cyprus in Solidarity and Resistance

Cyprus is often framed as a polarised place, but its LGBTI movement is rewriting that story. In this episode of The Frontline, activists from both […]
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Statement: Alarming escalation in repression of LGBTI activists and organisations in Turkey

Europe’s leading LGBTI organisation, ILGA-Europe express deep concern at this week’s court ruling in Turkey to shut down the LGBTI youth organisation, Genç LGBTI, noting […]
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Press Release

Reports say police seek charges against Budapest Mayor for organising Pride

Emerging reports deepen concerns over misuse of the Assembly Act and shrinking democratic space in Hungary. ILGA-Europe are deeply concerned by emerging reports that the […]
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PRESS RELEASE: the pressure facing Pride organisers in Hungary

Brussels briefing sheds new light on the pressure facing Pride organisers in Hungary and the stakes for the European Union At a media briefing in […]
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Q&A: Everything you want to know about the recent ruling on recognition of same-sex marriages in the EU

Here is a concise overview of what the new Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruling means for same sex couples moving or living […]
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We welcome the EU’s Top Court landmark judgment: Member States Must Recognise Same-Sex Marriages from Other EU Countries

The EU Court of Justice has ruled that it is unlawful for Poland to refuse to recognise a same-sex marriage concluded by two Polish citizens […]
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Press Release

Press Release: New Report Highlights Hidden Homelessness Faced by LGBTI People in Europe

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The Power of Data – Addressing LGBTI Homelessness in Europe

ILGA-Europe’s briefing combines research carried out in 2023–2024 by five partner organisations and shows that LGBTI homelessness is widespread, often hidden, and rooted in intersecting […]
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The ILGA-Europe Annual Conference 2025 in Pictures

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Press Release

From Courtrooms to Parliament: Lithuania Faces a Defining Moment for Family Equality

Lithuania is entering a decisive phase in the recognition and protection of diverse families. Following landmark judicial rulings, civil partnership is now firmly on the […]
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Joint open letter on new Constitutional amendments adopted in Slovakia

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Our letter to von der Leyen on freedom of assembly in hungary

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Enes Hocaoğulları defends free expression as trial highlights crackdown on human rights in Turkey

On 8 September, the courtroom in Ankara was filled to capacity. Representatives from civil society, political parties, and parliamentarians came to observe the trial of […]
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Turkey’s war on free expression and the courage of Enes Hocaoğulları

By jailing a youth delegate for speaking at the Council of Europe about police violence, Turkish authorities have shown how far they will go to […]
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No borders, just beats: Temple Of’s sonic rebellion

Built by queer immigrants reclaiming joy and cultural memory, Temple Of is a collective transforming resistance into celebration through sound and care. “We are a […]
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Hungary assembly act timeline

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The ILGA-Europe Turkey Pride Monitor

For three years now, ILGA-Europe has been closely following the escalating repression of LGBTI Pride events in Turkey. Each summer, courageous activists across the country […]
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Joint statement welcoming European court’s ruling against Poland over anti-gay hate crime

The European Court of Human Rights has issued a judgement against Poland for failing to properly investigate and prosecute a homophobic attack against a gay […]
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Together in Pride, Together in Protest

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Budapest Pride Could Have Been Legal and Safe. The European Commission Chose Otherwise.

By refusing to act, the European Commission enabled the ban and left activists alone to defend fundamental rights. A joint declaration by ILGA-Europe, Forbidden Colours, […]
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Blog

Against the odds: progress for LGBTI rights in Europe

While setbacks for LgbtI rights have dominated the headlines from this year’s Rainbow Map, a quieter story of resilience and progress is unfolding. In the […]
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