Civil Unions, Registered Partnerships and Cohabitation
The governments of Croatia, Cyprus and Malta have all announced their intention to introduce legislation for civil unions, providing for some or all of the rights of marriage. The government of Estonia undertook a consultation on the recognition of same sex couples in 2012.
Croatia: The Croatian government led by Zoran Milanovic has also plans to introduce full civil unions in Croatia. Legislation is expected to be introduced in the first quarter of 2013.
Cyprus: On 17 January 2013, then Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou said that her ministry was working on a bill creating civil partnerships. In February 2013, then government accepted the draft bill. In March 2013, newly elected president Nicos Anastasiades and his government reaffirmed their support for the bill.
Estonia: The minister of Justice of Estonia has said that a project of law to legalize civil unions for same sex couples has already been prepared, although the government has not yet responded to its consultation on the recognition of same sex couples which ended in October 2012. Estonia would become the first ex-Soviet member of the European Union to recognize family rights for gay couples.
Italy: On 28 April 2013 the Letta Government, a grand coalition cabinet, was formed by some members from PD, PdL and SC. Only the Democratic Party pledged its support to same-sex relationship recognition during the political campaign. On 10 May 2013 the Equalities Minister, Josefa Idem (PD), said that she will introduce a bill which will recognise same-sex unions and cohabitants rights.
Malta: The Labour Party which won a majority in the recent election has pledged to introduce civil unions. The bill introducing same sex civil unions in Malta is expected by summer 2013.
Poland: On January 29, 2013, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) submitted to the Polish Parliament a new draft law on registered relationship (the previous draft law with minor changes), which will regulate the relationship of same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Similarly, just a day later the Palikot's Movement (RP) re-submited to the Parliament its own previous draft law. Also, the Civic Platform (PO) will submit to the Parliament its own draft law on "partnership agreement" (the previous draft law with minor changes) in a few weeks. It is not certain yet, whether PO submit one or two draft laws, the first (the previous one) more liberal (although still this is more conservative in their assumptions than those of SLD and RP) and the second (a new one) more conservative as a compromise for a group of 46 Conservative PO MPs who voted against previous PO's draft law on "partnership agreement".
The European Union: Debate has occurred throughout the European Union over a proposal which would require each member to legally recognize each other's same-sex marriages as well as any member's civil unions and registered partnerships.
Read more about this topic: Same-sex Marriage In Europe, Future Legislation
Famous quotes containing the words civil, registered and/or cohabitation:
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