Same-sex marriage in Europe

7.7.2015

Question for written answer E-010927-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
István Ujhelyi (S&D)

Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans says efforts should be made to bring all EU Member States to recognise same-sex marriage, as has recently been done in the USA. Gay marriage is permitted in nine of the 28 Member States, and will be in Finland from 2017. In a further seven, including Hungary, registered partnerships are allowed. However, Hungary also belongs to the group of Member States, almost all of which acceded after 2004, whose Constitutions state that marriage may only be between a man and a woman. The Commission has no right to propose legislation on this matter, which is an area of national competence.

1. Does the Commission have a uniform position on the recognition of same-sex marriage? What is its view of the fact that Hungary has enshrined in its Constitution an obligation that opposes this?2. How can the Member States be encouraged to recognise same-sex marriage, as the USA and the abovementioned nine Member States have done?