By Hilary White
BRUSSELS, February 13, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The European Union has criticised those member states that have not lived up to the requirements of EU rules on "discrimination" relating to homosexuality and other issues. The EU commission for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities has initiated legal procedures against those countries that have failed to implement its legislation. The commission's memo covered areas of discrimination in the case of age and disability as well as sexual orientation.
Germany was particularly singled out with a letter complaining that the country's same-sex civil union registration does not sufficiently match the rights granted couples in natural marriages.
"The 'registered lifetime partnership' which gays and lesbians can enter into does not bestow the same privileges as marriage, which remains an option available to heterosexual couples only," the letter read.
Estonia, France, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the Czech Republic were listed in a memo that detailed those countries' failings in living up to the EU's definitions and directives for "discrimination" legislation. The memo by the Commissioner, Vladimir Spidla, sets out in minute detail the transgressions of each of these countries and warns that a "reasoned ...   more »