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Brussels argues binding law unfeasible while campaigners push for uniform protection of LGBTQI+ people.
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The European Union has declined to pursue a bloc-wide ban on conversion therapy targeting LGBTQI+ people, according to RFI English, dividing campaigners and lawmakers.
Eight EU member states have already implemented national bans on the practice. Brussels contends that a binding EU-wide law is not feasible, citing implementation challenges. The decision has frustrated rights advocates who argue for uniform legal protection across all member states.
The disagreement highlights ongoing divisions within the bloc over LGBTQ+ protections and the appropriate role of EU-level legislation versus national approaches.
The EU has rejected a bloc-wide ban on conversion therapy despite eight member states already having national prohibitions, arguing that a binding EU law is unfeasible due to implementation challenges. LGBTQI+ advocates say this leaves people unprotected in countries without bans and undermines uniform rights protection across the bloc.
If you or someone you know is LGBTQI+ in an EU country without a national ban, you remain vulnerable to conversion therapy practices with no EU-level legal recourse. This decision also signals that EU-wide protections on LGBTQ+ issues will remain fragmented, meaning your rights depend on which member state you live in rather than a common continental standard.