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Verbatim report of proceedings
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Wednesday, 12 March 2025-Strasbourg

13. Adoption of the proposal for a Parenthood Regulation (debate)
Video of the speeches
Minutes
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Die Präsidentin. – Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über.

– die Anfrage zur mündlichen Beantwortung an den Rat über die Annahme des Vorschlags für eine Verordnung zur Elternschaft von Ilhan Kyuchyuk im Namen des Rechtsausschusses (O-000004/2025 – B10-0003/25) () und.

– die Anfrage zur mündlichen Beantwortung an die Kommission über die Annahme des Vorschlags für eine Verordnung zur Elternschaft von Ilhan Kyuchyuk im Namen des Rechtsausschusses (O-000005/2025 – B10-0004/25) ().

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Ilhan Kyuchyuk, author. – MadamPresident, dear Commissioner, dear representatives of the Council – they are not present yet. 'If you are a parent in one country, you are parent in every country', said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2020 State of the Union speech. This gave a political impulse for the European Commission to prepare rules on the cross-border recognition of parenthood.

Two years after, on 7 December 2022, the proposal for a Council regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood, and on the creation of a European certificate of parenthood, was announced under the equality package. The proposal sets rules of jurisdiction and applicable law for establishing parenthood and provides for an automatic recognition of decisions in parenthood matters. It also provides for a unified form of European certificate of parenthood that is optional and should not replace national documents, but should ease the confirmation of parenthood if needed in another Member States.

The future regulation is to apply only for the establishment of parenthood in a cross-border situation and the recognition of instruments issued in another Member State. The Commission's ultimate goal was to safeguard the rights of all children, also those derived from national rules, arguing that, by resolving the parenthood of the child as a preliminary question, the regulation will facilitate the application of excusing Union instruments on parental responsibility, maintenance and succession as regards the child.

Ϸվ expressed support for the main objective of the proposed regulation to address the issue of the non-recognition of parenthood status by assuring that if a child-parent relation has been established in one Member State, all other Member States should recognise it without additional proceedings.

In its deliberations, the European Ϸվ focused thoroughly on safeguarding the rights of the child, as they should be guaranteed in all European Union Member States, regardless of a child's family arrangements or how the child was born into this world.

Taking into account that the Council has been working on the proposal for more than two years, on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs, allow me to present the following questions for an oral answer to the Council.

First, dear Council, what progress has been made by the Council so far in terms of the adoption of the parenthood regulation by all Member States? On which parts of the proposal have discussions already been concluded, if any?

Second, what solutions have been discussed to accommodate certain Member States' concerns related to the most contentious matters, such as the establishment and recognition of the parenthood of children born via surrogacy and children of same-sex parents?

Third, is the Council considering, in the event of not being able to obtain unanimity, triggering the enhanced cooperation mechanism under Article 20 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 326 and 334 of TFEU?

And, additionally, the following questions refer to the Commission. How has the Commission facilitated the discussion on the proposal in the Council? Is the Commission prepared – or is it planning – in the event that unanimity among the Member States cannot be reached to pursue the objectives of the proposed regulation using alternative legislative instruments or mechanisms provided already in the Treaties?

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Christophe Hansen, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members, let me start by thanking the European Ϸվ for its positive opinion on the Commission proposal on the recognition of parenthood between Member States. And let me also thank the European Ϸվ for its continued interest in the ongoing legislative discussions on the proposal in the Council, as shown by this oral question on the matter.

Member States are already required by Union law on free movement to recognise parenthood established in another Member State for the purposes of children's rights under the European Union law, and this includes their right to travel or to take up residence in another Member State, their right to obtain a travel documentation or their right to be treated equally in a host Member State on all matters within the scope of the Treaty.

The Court of Justice confirmed in 2021, in its judgment in the V.M.A. case, that this recognition obligation also applies to children with same-sex parents, even if the Member State where recognition is sought does not allow parenthood by same-sex couples.

Indeed, the recognition in a Member State of parenthood established in another Member State is essential for the right to free movement. But families may still face difficulties in having the parenthood of their children recognised in another Member State for all purposes, that is, beyond the existence of children's rights under free movement law, notably for the purposes of children's rights under national law, such as their right to inherit from either parent in another Member State, to receive financial support from either parent in another Member State, or to be represented by either parent in another Member State on matters such as schooling and health.

It is with this in mind that the Commission adopted the proposal under discussion and considered that, in line with international law, the Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the proposal should require Member States to recognise parenthood established in another Member State for all children, irrespective of how the child was conceived or born and irrespective of the child's type of family.The proposal does not affect substantive family law, which is a competence of the Member States, and the proposal is an essential element to build a Union of equality and implements the EU strategy on the rights of the child.

Moving now to the two questions you have asked. In the oral question first, the Commission has followed and supported thoroughly the ongoing discussions in the Council, which, however, need time, and mostly for two main reasons.

First, the proposal is a measure of family law with cross-border implications. The Member States have different approaches towards certain matters of family law. They therefore want to ensure that the proposal does not affect their competences to adopt rules on substantive family law, such as their rules on the definition of family adoptions or their rules on surrogacy. In addition, as the proposal needs to be adopted by unanimity, every Member State needs to be on board for every sensitive matter under discussion.

Second, the proposal is technically quite complex. The proposal aims to facilitate the recognition of parenthood by harmonising the Member States' rules of private international law, that is, the rules on international jurisdiction, applicable law on the recognition of judgements and authentic instruments, and by creating a European certificate of parenthood such as you have mentioned it. Currently, beyond existing rights under free movement law, each Member State addresses the recognition of parenthood according to different principles and procedures. Therefore, the Member States want to ensure that they find the provisions of the proposal acceptable from their policy viewpoint and that their authorities will find the provisions clear.

In view of the various policy and legal facets of the proposals, since the adoption of the proposal, the Commission has at all times lent its assistance to the Member States, both in the Council and in bilateral discussions to clarify points, address their questions and listen to their concerns, to try to find common ground with other Member States.

Likewise, the Commission has always been available to discuss with all the Council presidencies technical and policy solutions within the scope of the proposal, to help the discussions progress.The Commission also considers that all Member States have approached discussion in the Council on the proposal in a constructive manner, and that progress is gradually being made.

Concerning your second question here. If unanimity cannot be reached in the Council, the Commission recalls in this matter that, as the proposal goes beyond recognition of parenthood for the purposes of rights under EU law, it has to be adopted pursuant to Article 81(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, under the Union's competence to adopt measures on family law with cross-border implications.

As the European Ϸվ noted in its oral question, this means that, after having consulted the European Ϸվ, the proposed regulation must be adopted by unanimity in the Council. Given that important provisions must still be discussed in detail, it is not possible at this stage to predict how negotiations will unfold. However, Member States will eventually need to take a stand on whether they can support the proposal resulting from the negotiations in the Council. And if unanimity cannot be reached in the Council, the Commission remains ready to consider possible avenues at that precise moment.

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Die Präsidentin. – Bevor wir jetzt mit der Debatte starten, möchte ich mitteilen, dass ich das Catch the Eye jetzt schließe, denn eigentlich haben wir die Regel, dass diejenigen, die sich unter Catch the Eye zu Wort melden wollen, während der Debatte präsent sein sollen, und die Debatte hat schon vor über zehn Minuten mit den Statements des Berichterstatters und der Kommission begonnen. Dadurch, dass wir durch die lange Abstimmung heute Mittag recht weit hinter dem eigentlichen Zeitplan hinterherhängen, bitte ich um Verständnis, dass ich in diesem Fall die Regeln sehr strikt auslege.

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Michał Wawrykiewicz, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, I would like to thank the European Commission for this important legislative proposal. President von der Leyen once said, 'if you are a parent in one country, you are a parent in every country'. I want to thank also the Council and Minister Szłapka for the declaration to work on this fight during the Polish Presidency. The Polish Presidency understands the real issue at the heart of this proposal, and is not afraid to address it head on.

As a lawyer, I must underline that this proposal is not about interfering in national rules on family law, or it is not about regulating surrogacy or imposing any new definitions on parenthood on Member States. This is about guaranteeing that each child in the European Union has a full package of rights, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. It is about ensuring that the child does not lose legal parents, access to healthcare, nationality or inheritance rights simply because their family moves to another country of the European Union.

One of the most practical and urgent issues addressed by this proposal is 'limping parenthood'. 'Limping parenthood' refers to the situation where a child's legal parenthood is recognised in one Member State, but not in another. This leads to, for example, loss of parental rights by one of both parents, restriction of the child's rights, including losses in access to citizenship, inheritance, social benefits or parental care, costly and lengthy legal proceedings, and the risk of family separation.

The European Union is built on the principle of freedom of movement, non-discrimination and legal certainty. It is our duty to ensure that these principles apply equally to all families. This proposal is not about politics, it's about people and, in particular, children.

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Alessandro Zan, a nome del gruppo S&D. – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, un genitore in uno Stato membro è un genitore in tutti gli Stati membri. Ursula von der Leyen lo aveva promesso nel 2020 e cinque anni dopo non è ancora così. Pensate che in Europa possono circolare le merci e i capitali ma non possono circolare i diritti. E, soprattutto, questo a scapito dei figli di queste famiglie, dei più piccoli.

Un esempio drammatico ne è l'Italia, dove il governo di Giorgia Meloni ha messo in atto una crociata contro le famiglie omogenitoriali, trascinando in tribunale – per effetto di una circolare del ministro dell'Interno – decine di famiglie con due madri, in tribunale, come se fossero dei criminali a difendere il proprio diritto di essere genitori dei propri figli. E nel silenzio più completo, mi dispiace dirlo, della Commissione europea.

La democrazia, lo Stato di diritto, la stessa Unione europea si rafforzano e si difendono anche così. Allora pensiamoci: finché questo regolamento resta bloccato, a rimetterci saranno sempre, e prima di tutto, i bambini.

La destra si preoccupa tanto delle famiglie e a questi bambini cosa direbbero? Come spiegherebbero ad un bambino che, una volta passata la frontiera, con un altro Stato membro, come l'Italia, rischiano di perdere uno dei due genitori, o addirittura tutti e due, come se fossero perseguitati penalmente?

Allora la presidente Van der Leyen continua a dirci che la libertà e la democrazia sono sotto attacco. È vero, ma non lo sono solo quando dobbiamo svegliare le coscienze sulla necessità di una difesa comune ma anche quando non riusciamo a garantire che una famiglia resti una famiglia a prescindere da dove si trova e da come è composta.

Allora mi rivolgo al Consiglio e alla Presidenza di turno, perché sblocchi subito il regolamento sulla genitorialità e mi rivolgo ovviamente a Ursula von der Leyen ...

(La Presidente toglie la parola all'oratore)

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Ernő Schaller-Baross, a PfE képviselőcsoport nevében. – Elnök Asszony! A családjogi kérdések mélyen gyökereznek a tagállamok jogrendszereiben és társadalmi hagyományaiban, ezért elengedhetetlen, hogy az ezzel kapcsolatos uniós szabályozás tiszteletben tartsa a szubszidiaritás elvét. Önök ezzel a javaslattal páros lábbal kívánják eltiporni a tagállamok demokratikus döntését, a közös szerződéseinket és hazám Alaptörvényét.

Nincs lehetőség arra, hogy a baloldali és liberális képviselőtársaim és NGO-k által szorgalmazott szülői jogállás és a leszármazás kérdését közösségi szinten szabályozzuk. Fontos, hogy tiszteletben tartsuk a tagállamok kulturális és jogi hagyományait. Fontos, hogy az Európai Unió ne lépje túl ismét hatáskörét, és a tagállamok pedig szabadon dönthessenek családjogi és leszármazási kérdésekben. Nem Ursula von der Leyen dönti el, hogy egy tagállamban ki szülő. Szerencsére.

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Jadwiga Wiśniewska, w imieniu grupy ECR. – Pani Przewodnicząca! Panie Komisarzu! Szanowni Państwo! Zgodnie z artykułem 18 polskiej konstytucji małżeństwo jest związkiem kobiety i mężczyzny, co oznacza, że małżeństwa jednopłciowe, ani rodzicielstwo osób tej samej płci, nie są uznawane, a surogacja w większości państw członkowskich jest nielegalna. Tymczasem Komisja Europejska, niczym komunistyczna egzekutywa narzuca tęczową ideologię. Znów szuka drogi, by forsować kolejne przywileje dla par jednopłciowych, tym razem cynicznie wykorzystując dobro dzieci. Ale nie dajmy się zwieść. Wzajemne uznawanie rodzicielstwa to nie obrona praw dzieci, to forsowanie tęczowej ideologii. Zgodnie z polskim prawem matką jest kobieta, która je urodziła, a ojcem mężczyzna. Z kolei surogacja to nic innego jak budowanie systemu, w którym dziecko staje się przedmiotem transakcji. Czy naprawdę chcemy Europy, gdzie dziecko traktuje się jak produkt do zamówienia? Bruksela nie będzie nam dyktować, czym jest rodzina. Czas stanowczo powiedzieć: dość tęczowej ideologii... (Przewodnicząca odebrała mówczyni głos)

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Moritz Körner, im Namen der Renew-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll, ehrlich gesagt, bei dem, was ich hier gerade gehört habe. Also, member state competence, dann irgendwie Sexual-LGBT-Propaganda, dann wird gesagt, wir wollen irgendwie die Privilegien von Regenbogenfamilien auf irgendetwas aufzwingen. Und dann haben Sie noch die Dreistigkeit, von Kindern und Kinderrechten zu sprechen. Das Allerschlimmste, was Sie einem Kind antun können, ist, dass es den Schutz durch seine Eltern nicht mehr hat, wenn es dann in einem anderen Land in der Europäischen Union ist; das ist doch das Allerschlimmste, was passieren kann.

Sie wollen Kindern das Wichtigste wegnehmen, was sie haben, nämlich die Eltern. Sie wollen Kindern das Wichtigste wegnehmen, was sie haben, nämlich die Liebe und den Schutz. Darum geht es Ihnen! Ihnen geht es in Wahrheit, wenn Sie über Familie sprechen, wenn Sie über Werte sprechen, nicht darum. Es geht Ihnen um Ihre konservative Ideologie. In Ihrem Bild darf nicht sein, was nicht sein darf, auch wenn Regenbogenfamilien für Kinder …

Deswegen werden wir dagegen kämpfen, und die Kommission muss jetzt endlich …

(Die Präsidentin entzieht dem Redner das Wort.)

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Kim Van Sparrentak, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – MadamPresident, dear colleagues, I hope we all agree family life shouldn't be a privilege, let alone something that we deprive a child of, and the same goes for the rights of free movement. Unfortunately, right now, this does not reflect the situation of many rainbow families. When a child in Europe has two mothers or two fathers and moves to another country, from one minute to the other, they can legally lose their parent – one parent that, for example, can't take medical decisions in case of dire need. This is simply unacceptable!

Meanwhile in 2020, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen already said, 'If you are a parent in one country, you are a parent in every country'. And I want to emphasise, the Commission President did not say if you are a parent in one country, I will definitely keep my fingers crossed and hope that one day you are a parent in every country.

Since 2022, we've had a legislative proposal on the table that could make sure that many children in the EU don't lose their parents when they move to another Member State. Ϸվ has been very clear about its support. The European Court of Justice has ruled that parents shouldn't lose their rights when they cross a border within the EU. The Commission President was pretty clear. The courts are clear. We, Ϸվ, have been clear. We even called for a change in legislative instruments to make sure that governments who discriminate against rainbow families can't simply block this legislative proposal.

I think it is high time that the European Commission shows some commitment to the Union of Equality that you're always talking about, especially after the incomprehensible withdrawal of the Equality Directive. Commission, do the work, and please make sure that the parenthood regulation is adopted.

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Mario Furore, a nome del gruppo The Left. – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, chi è padre o madre in uno Stato membro deve essere padre o madre in qualsiasi altro Paese dell'Unione. Questo principio, che dovrebbe essere la normalità in Europa, non viene, invece, rispettato in moltissimi Paesi, a dimostrazione che l'Europa dei diritti deve ancora nascere.

Da oltre due anni il certificato europeo di genitorialità langue in un cassetto del Consiglio e non viene approvato. Questo grave ostruzionismo lede l'interesse superiore del minore, che dovrebbe essere la stella polare di qualsiasi regolamento europeo.

Due milioni di bambini oggi non possono viaggiare liberamente nella nostra Unione perché non è riconosciuta la loro identità, nonché il rapporto di filiazione con i loro genitori.

Non c'è più tempo da perdere: se vi sono Paesi che per motivi ideologici oppongono il loro veto, ci auguriamo che i restanti procedano attivando il meccanismo di cooperazione rafforzata, prendendo una decisione di civiltà e di rispetto dei diritti fondamentali dell'UE.

E l'Italia, ci auguriamo, possa far parte di questo gruppo di Paesi che guarda al futuro e non guarda invece al Medioevo.

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Irmhild Boßdorf, im Namen der ESN-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Baby Sara kann nichts dafür: Wer sie geboren hat, ist nicht bekannt; wer ihre biologischen Eltern sind, nur teilweise. Fest steht nur, dass zwei Frauen, die in einem westlichen EU-Land einander geheiratet haben, die Homo-Ehe auf diesem Weg auch in Osteuropa durchsetzen wollen. Bulgarien, Herkunftsland einer der beiden Frauen, erlaubt nämlich eine solche gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe bislang nicht. Ob die Mutter von Baby Sara Bulgarin ist, ist unbekannt. Dennoch bekam Sara nach einem Urteil des Europäischen Gerichtshofs dort die Staatsbürgerschaft. Ursula von der Leyen freut das. Sie behauptet: Wer in einem Land Elternpaar ist, muss dies in jedem anderen Land auch sein, nur dann kann die LGBTQ-Agenda durchgesetzt werden. Zitat: Ursula von der Leyen.

Bei der heutigen Debatte geht es mitnichten um eine grenzübergreifende Stärkung der Elternschaft, sondern nur um das ideologiegetriebene Gender-Mainstreaming: Jeder kann sich überall und jederzeit zu Eltern erklären. Lassen wir diese Übergriffigkeit der EU nicht zu, stärken wir unsere Familien, schützen wir unsere Kinder!

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Maria Walsh (PPE). – Madam President, these debates always make me incredibly disappointed in our democratic policies and belief systems. We represent millions of Europeans – LGBTI and other, all – and it saddens me that in this House, that is built on bringing people together, that we forget that in many, many of our speeches.

Let me bring it back to why we're discussing this very important parenthood regulation. An estimated 2 million children currently face difficulties in having their parents recognised in another Member State – 2 million children. Not children of gay people or straight people. Just children across our EU right now have difficulties in their parents being recognised by the 27 Member States. This much needed and timely EU parenthood regulation provides that clarity and consistency in helping families navigate the legal systems that have now, up to this point, been fragmented. This is not just a legal case. It's a human issue. No matter where you live in Europe, your rights as a parent must be respected.

I want to pay particular attention to the regulation, which will ease burdens on folks like me who may decide one day to have children. As an LGBTI individual and ally, I should, too, face the same rights as everyone in this House and, most importantly, everybody we represent in this House. We cannot afford to let prejudice stand in the way of progress. Europe must treat all families equally, and we must have a Commission and a Council that fight to do that.

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Evin Incir (S&D). – MadamPresident, the question of whether we should adopt the parenthood regulation to ensure the families can stay together, no matter where they choose to live in our Union, shouldn't even be up for debate. This should have been approved a long time ago – yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, two years ago.

Let's clarify this: we have the freedom of movement for goods, services, capital and people in the EU. Article 21 of the EU Treaty states, 'Every citizen of the Union shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of all the Member States'. Similarly, Article 45 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights affirms, 'Every citizen of the Union has the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States'. So what is the far right doing here today? The only correct answer is that you are doing an exercise in homophobia and an attempt to deprive children of their parents.

Commissioner, the worst part, I must say, is that, at a time when we need to strengthen protection against far-right hate, the Commission has chosen to withdraw the proposal for the EU anti-discrimination directive – I must say that that is very disappointing. But now let us ensure we can adopt a piece of legislation that would let families be families, regardless of where they move in our Union.

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Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE). – Señora presidente, señor comisario, señorías, todo niño tiene un padre y una madre. Tiene derecho a conocerlos y a ser cuidado por ellos en la medida de lo posible. Este Reglamento pone en riesgo este principio natural, entrometiéndose en el derecho de familia, sobre el que la Unión Europea no tiene competencias.

Con el pretexto de simplificar el papeleo de situaciones complejas de por sí, se plantea que cada cual pueda elegir una legislación a conveniencia, forzando a los países a aceptar disposiciones ajenas a su propio Derecho, lo que crearía no solo un caos regulatorio, sino que dejaría resquicios que pueden amparar prácticas ilegales con graves agresiones a la dignidad de las personas, como la gestación subrogada, adopciones ilegales... Aquí se ha hablado incluso de la multiparentalidad. Saben el resultado de abrir estos cauces: cada vez más niños en situaciones nada deseables y la peligrosa normalización de la ruptura de los lazos naturales.

Los derechos del niño se defienden fortaleciendo la familia, no desconfigurándola.

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Paolo Inselvini (ECR). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, chi è davvero genitore non è mai discriminato quando circola in Europa. Chi pretende di esserlo, invece, sofisticando la realtà o comprando bambini, incontra ostacoli oggettivi e giusti.

Con questo nuovo regolamento l'UE ingerisce pesantemente nel diritto di famiglia degli Stati membri con il pretesto della libertà di circolazione. Quanti minori non vedono riconosciuti i loro genitori in un altro Stato dell'Unione europea? Da come ne parlate sembra che ogni famiglia debba temere di muoversi: ma non è così.

Gli adulti invece, in stati civili come il mio, non vedono riconosciuti alcuni loro desideri: chi viene o torna in Italia e si è macchiato del reato di utero in affitto troverà problemi e ostacoli. È vero ed è giusto. Lo facciamo per proteggere i bambini da un mercato che li riduce a oggetti di contratto. Non accetteremo nessun regolamento che serva per aggirare le nostre leggi nazionali e per legittimare la barbara pratica dell'utero in affitto.

(L'oratore accetta di rispondere a una domanda "cartellino blu")

IN THE CHAIR: VICTOR NEGRESCU
Vice-President

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Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew), blue-card question. – MrInselvini, here we are again with the blue-card, I hope that this time you will answer my question instead of answering something else.

You always talk about the interests of children – and I agree with you, we are all here trying to protect the interests of children.

Now, would you be able to explain to me how the interests of a child who has always known two mothers, of whom one of the mothers now may be terminally ill and might die, will be taken care of, the interests of that child, if the other mother – who is not his biological mother – is not recognised as a mother? Because that is what is happening in Italy at the moment.

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Paolo Inselvini (ECR), risposta a una domanda "cartellino blu". – Grazie alla collega per il classico cartellino blu. La ringrazio per la domanda e la ringrazio per il fatto che mi fa sottolineare ancora una volta come noi ci basiamo su dati di realtà.

Purtroppo, per quello che è la vostra ideologia, il 100% - ve lo svelo - dei bambini in Europa è nato da un padre e una madre; lo 0% da due madri o da due padri.

Oppure ci sono persone invece che comprano i bambini e in quel caso il diritto del bambino è quello a conoscere un padre, suo padre, e sua madre. Questo è tutelare i diritti dei bambini, non raccontare loro ideologie LGBT e arcobaleno come le vostre.

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Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE). – Monsieur le Président, «si vous êtes parent dans un pays, vous êtes parent dans tous les pays». Ce sont effectivement les mots de MmevonderLeyen, présidente de la Commission européenne, dans son discours sur l’état de l’Union de2020. Le Parlement européen est aussi de cet avis; il est pour la reconnaissance mutuelle de la parentalité. Or, depuis décembre2023, c’est le Conseil que l’on attend. Pourquoi les États membres jouent-ils de cette manière avec l’avenir de 2millionsd’enfants?

Ceux qui s’y opposent encore sont homophobes. La preuve: les propos tenus dans cette assemblée, aujourd’hui. Les droits des familles de la communauté LGBTQIA+ sont de plus en plus menacés. Aujourd’hui plus que jamais, la protection par la loi des enfants des familles LGBTQIA+ doit être une priorité. Nous demandons donc à la Commission européenne et au Conseil d’avancer rapidement et de prendre acte qu’un enfant est un enfant, qu’une famille est une famille, et que toutes et tous ont des droits.Love is love!

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Έλενα Κουντουρά (The Left). – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, το διεθνές δίκαιο ορίζει ότι όλα τα παιδιά πρέπει να έχουν τα ίδια δικαιώματα χωρίς διακρίσεις. Στην πράξη όμως, όταν μια οικογένεια μετακινείται από ένα ευρωπαϊκό κράτος μέλος σε ένα άλλο, μπορεί να αντιμετωπίσει την απαράδεκτη πραγματικότητα της μη αναγνώρισης της γονικής σχέσης που έχει θεμελιωθεί σε ένα άλλο κράτος μέλος. Αυτή η νομική ανασφάλεια δημιουργεί σοβαρά εμπόδια στην καθημερινότητα χιλιάδων οικογενειών, από την πρόσβαση στην υγειονομική περίθαλψη και την εκπαίδευση, μέχρι ζητήματα διαμονής και κληρονομικών δικαιωμάτων.

Ο κανονισμός για τη γονική σχέση είναι ένα απαραίτητο βήμα για να διασφαλίσουμε ότι, αν είσαι γονέας σε ένα ευρωπαϊκό κράτος μέλος, πρέπει να αναγνωρίζεσαι ως γονέας σε όλες τις χώρες της Ένωσης, και ότι κάθε παιδί στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση έχει αναγνωρισμένα και προστατευμένα τα δικαιώματά του, ανεξαρτήτως του τόπου διαμονής του και του τύπου της οικογένειάς του. Το Συμβούλιο πρέπει να υιοθετήσει άμεσα τον κανονισμό, για να τερματιστεί αυτή η απαράδεκτη διάκριση σε βάρος εκατομμυρίων παιδιών στην Ευρώπη. Ευχαριστώ πολύ.

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Ivan David (ESN). – Pane předsedající, návrh nařízení o rodičovství, který vyžaduje, aby všechny členské státy uznávaly rodičovství za stejných podmínek, nerespektuje rozdíly v národních tradicích a vůli jednotlivých komunit. Konstatuje, že práva dětí vyplývající z rodičovství mají být chráněna bez ohledu na právní vztah mezi rodiči a způsob, jakým bylo dítě počato. Práva dětí dnes nikdo nezpochybňuje. Mimomanželské děti nejsou vystaveny opovržení jako před sto lety. Ale v tomto nařízení jde ve skutečnosti o práva rodičů bez ohledu na to, jak dosáhli rodičovství. Ne každý je způsobilý řádné péče o děti, ale nelze postupovat tak, jak činí Barnevernet v Norsku, který odebírá rodičům více než 1 000 dětí ročně. Hrozí legalizace obchodu s dětmi, který už funguje. Děti nesmějí být předmětem obchodu. Předložené nařízení by umožnilo děti koupené v jedné zemi legalizovat v celé EU.

(Řečník souhlasil s tím, že že odpoví na otázku položenou zvednutím modré karty)

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Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), blue-card question. – MrDavid, thank you very much for your intervention. Every time we hear someone from your political family, you are speaking about families, you are speaking about defending them, and you are truly right about that.

But just today, in the plenary, you voted against the European care strategy to defend all types of large families in your vote in the plenary.

So, my question is very simple: are these only words or are you really working to defend the working-class people and working-class families?

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Ivan David (ESN), odpověď na otázku položenou zvednutím modré karty. – S dovolením, já jsem přesvědčen o tom, že to, co jsem tady řekl, má reálný základ, neboť jsem se seznámil se skutečností, že skutečně existuje způsob, který umožňuje prostřednictvím náhradního mateřství získávat děti. Existují takové nabídky a tento systém se skutečně uplatňuje.

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Miriam Lexmann (PPE). – Vážený pán predsedajúci, nariadenie o uznávaní rodičovstva bolo od začiatku, žiaľ, veľmi kontroverzné. Upozorňovali sme na to v Európskom parlamente a zablokovali ho niektoré členské štáty v Rade práve z tohto dôvodu. Dlhodobo sa pýtam: Chceme nájsť skutočné riešenie na problémy, alebo tu ide o to, kto si presadí svoju ideologickú prevahu?

Áno, to, že v niektorých štátoch, v niektorých prípadoch prichádza k problémom, napríklad s cestovným pasom alebo povinným pobytom alebo dovolením pobytu a povolením pobytu, je fakt. Hrubé zasahovanie do dohodnutých kompetencií členských štátov však rozhodne nie je riešením. Rodinné právo vždy patrilo a musí aj naďalej patriť do rúk jednotlivých členských štátov. Naviac, doteraz sme nedostali žiadnu odpoveď na naše obavy, že nariadenie otvorí dvere pre obchod s deťmi v rámci praxe takzvaného náhradného materstva.

Hľadajme preto praktické postupy, na ktorých sa vieme zhodnúť. Neriešme problémy pretláčaním ideológie a zasahovaním do výlučnej kompetencie členských štátov. Lebo neustále pretláčanie textu, ktorý je od začiatku kontroverzný, nebude viesť k dohode, ale bude viesť k polarizácii. A to je to posledné, čo dnes, v dnešnej zložitej situácii, Európska únia potrebuje. Únia sa má sústrediť na to, čo dostala do kompetencie a neriešiť problémy, ktoré sme nechali vo výlučnej kompetencii členských štátov.

(Rečníčka súhlasila s tým, že odpovie na dve otázky položené zdvihnutím modrej karty)

(Rečníčka súhlasila, že odpovie na viaceré otázky položené zdvihnutím modrej karty)

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Evin Incir (S&D), blue-card question. – I just wanted to ask our colleague a question. First and foremost, we are not talking about surrogacy, because on the issue of surrogacy I can subscribe to that – I also see it as a human trafficking use of women's body. We're not talking about surrogacy.

What we're talking about is children who already have two parents and they are of the same sex. This could be in different ways: adoption is one way and there are other different ways, but they do exist today.

What are we going to do with them? Are we going to deprive children who already exist today, who have parents who are of the same sex? Deprive their parents because they move from one country to the other? Because right now, freedom of movement doesn't apply to all our citizens.

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Miriam Lexmann (PPE), blue-card answer. – First of all, regarding surrogacy, even this Ϸվ has recognised it partially as human trafficking, an inhuman and criminal act. Secondly, many Member States ban surrogacy.

And my answer to your question is that I called on the Member States to look into the solutions of the individual children and problems of access to their passports or free movement or their ability to stay in a country.

But we cannot breach and interfere in the competences of the Member States. The solutions are there, but this proposal by the Commission, which we have seen, brings the solution by breaching the competences of the Member States, and we cannot agree with that.

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Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), blue-card question. – You are the umpteenth person talking about ideology today, and saying that you're worried about ideology going over biology. And I just want to ask you: what do you mean by this?

Because in the animal kingdom we have swans, ducks, geese, dolphins, bisons, giraffes, lions, bats, elephants, whales, monkeys, sheep, hyaena, lizards, dragonflies – and this is a non-exhaustive list – that are also homosexuals, like me. Can you please tell me what is ideological about this and not biological?

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Miriam Lexmann (PPE), blue-card answer. – Sorry, I think we are in the European Ϸվ and not in a biology class. I am talking about ideology interfering in the competences of the Member States – an ideology which believes that it is above the law. The international treaties, the EU treaties, set very clearly what is the competence of the Member States and what is not.

And the only thing I am asking is that we look for solutions for the problems of the children – which I believe we definitely should – but such solutions must be in line with European law. I hope that you believe in the rule of law. I do believe in it and that's why I believe in such solutions.

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Gilles Pennelle (PfE). – Monsieur le Président, le certificat européen de parentalité, inscrit au programme officiel de la Commission européenne pour2025, confirme sa volonté d’imposer ce règlement, telle une dictature, malgré l’opposition formulée par plusieurs États membres (Italie, Suède, Slovaquie, Croatie, Bulgarie, Roumanie) au sein du Conseil en juin2024. Pourquoi la Commission et le Parlement européen persévèrent-ils sur ce sujet controversé, alors que le droit de la famille est une compétence nationale?

En effet, cette proposition impliquerait d’obliger des États à reconnaître des filiations issues de mères porteuses, alors que leur loi nationale l’interdit. Les États membres seraient donc contraints de valider indirectement des pratiques contraires à leur législation nationale et à leurs choix politiques et éthiques. Ce forcing consisterait à faire reconnaître de fait la GPA et à faciliter sa pratique, pourtant interdite dans plusieurs États européens, comme la France. La légalisation de la marchandisation du corps de la femme est, en fin de compte, la véritable intention de ce règlement scandaleux. Tous ceux qui prétendent défendre les droits des femmes et des enfants devraient se mobiliser contre cela.

Catch-the-eye procedure

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Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señor presidente, señor comisario Hansen, los supuestos argumentos jurídicos que invocan el derecho soberano de los Estados miembros sobre sus legislaciones de familia y la necesidad de unanimidad para modificar esa competencia en realidad esconden prejuicios —eso sí, ideológicos— que son incompatibles con la obligación de los Estados miembros de respetar la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea, que consagra la libre circulación sin discriminación y, particularmente, protege el interés superior del menor.

Este es exactamente el objetivo del Reglamento sobre filiación europeo, que es imprescindible sacar adelante para asegurar que ningún menor es discriminado en ningún Estado miembro por su origen; porque no es aceptable que se haga al menor culpable de la supuesta familia de la que procede y que no gusta en determinados Estados miembros. A ninguno se le exige ni aceptar el matrimonio homosexual ni aceptar la filiación subrogada. Lo que se les exige es respetar la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea que, con el mismo valor jurídico que los Tratados, es vinculante para todos los Estados miembros.

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Lukas Sieper (NI). – MrPresident,dear people of Europe, I would like to touch on two main arguments that were brought before this House.

The first one is that all of this is an infringement within the competences of the Member States. I just ask those people: 'why do you think our beautiful flags are at that end of the room?' Because this whole thing here, this whole Union, is about giving competences to the Union instead of letting the Member States regulate that. Yes, we have to have discussions about this, but it will happen more and more and more, whether you like it or not. You can cry about sovereign nations all day. Those sovereign nations – all of them – decided to form this Union.

The second point is ideology. That just makes me smile, because while one part of the aisle just really wants to talk about the rights of people and self-determination and children's rights, the other ones are actually imposing religion – the religious idea that only a man and a woman can have a family and only a man and a woman can raise a child. If that's the baseline of your politics, please go back to 300 years ago.

(End of catch-the-eye procedure)

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Christophe Hansen, Member of the Commission. – MrPresident, honourable Members, as mentioned earlier, with this proposal, the Commission aims to ensure the continuity of parenthood status between Member States so that all children can fully enjoy their rights in all Member States for all purposes.

By requiring the recognition of parenthood, Union law does not interfere with the Member States substantive family law, which is a competence of the Member States.However, with the proposal, Union law would require the Member States' mutual recognition of parenthood beyond the existing rights under free movement law, to strengthen all children's rights in cross-border situations without leaving any child behind.

And, as MsBricmont rightly said, it is now up to the Member States to come to a conclusion and a mutual recognition. And that is where the ball lies now currently.

Ϸվ and the Member States, and the current and upcoming Council presidencies, can continue to count on the full support of the Commission in the effort to reach a well-balanced solution in this essential piece of legislation for our citizens.

And please let me conclude by saying we should, in all our efforts, put the best interest of the children into the centre of the discussion, irrespective of who their biological or non-biological parents are.

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President. – The debate is closed.

Last updated: 14 April 2025Legal notice-Privacy policy