ILGA-Europe’s submission to Progress Reports of the European Commission 2021
LGBTI Enlargement Review 2021
Even with the rise of Euroscepticism in the Western Balkans and Turkey, the EU accession process continues to be a driving force for change in the recognition of the human rights of LGBTI+ people. The annual enlargement report process is a key moment to remind governments of the criteria that need to be met and point out where advancement, especially regarding the protection of LGBTI people, is still falling behind the requirements. The recommendations regarding the human rights of LGBTI+ people are key tools supporting LGBTI+ organisations in the region to engage with their governments and hold them accountable to the commitments made.
To ensure an accurate representation of the developments regarding the human rights of LGBTI+ people, ILGA-Europe and ERA, together with member organisations in EU enlargement countries, have compiled this submission to the Progress Reports of the European Commission.
This report reflects developments in recognising and respecting the human rights of LGBTI+ people in each enlargement country from January to December 2021. In addition to outlining key developments and challenges on the road to LGBTI equality, the report also highlights gaps in legislation and policy for the protection and advancing of the human rights of LGBTI+ people and the priorities which authorities in each country should tackle in the coming year, as identified by LGBTI+ activists in the respective countries.
