
Let's create a European Certificate of Parenthood!
Recognising families, across borders
Two million European children may currently face a situation in which their parents are not recognised as such in another Member State. While EU law already requires parenthood to be recognised under a child’s EU rights, this is not the case for the child’s rights under national law. Our Group has been fighting relentlessly for cross-border recognition of adoptions in order to close the existing loopholes and ensure that all children in the EU can enjoy the same rights.
The new legislation we are currently negotiating will be facilitating the recognition of parenthood across the EU. Our aim is to maintain and strengthen children’s fundamental rights, both minors and adults, increase legal certainty and reduce costs and red tape. While parenthood would continue to be established nationally, so Member States would not be obliged to change their family law to e.g. accept surrogacy, it would have to be recognised as such in all EU countries irrespective of how the child was conceived, born or the type of family it has. Discrimination against children of same sex parents is a no-go for us! Our message is clear: if you are a parent in one Member State, you are a parent in all Member States!
The new rules will also specify which court and law apply in cross-border parenthood disputes and introduce a European Parenthood Certificate (EPC), available in all EU official languages, to facilitate the recognition of parenthood.

Notre objectif est de faire des progrès clairs pendant cette législature :
- Déclarer que l’Europe est une Zone de Liberté LGBTQI+ (Résolution du Parlement votée en Mars 2021)
- Reconnaître et accroître les droits des familles et parents LGBTQI+ dans les 27 pays membres
- Interdire la “thérapie de conversion” forcée, notamment pour les jeunes
- Pousser pour l’adoption de Directive de Traitement Horizontal et Égal, en incluant des droits forts d’égalité de traitement pour les personnes LGBTQI+
- Assurer que l’UE est un endroit accueillant et sûr pour les chercheurs d’asile LGBTQI+
- Préconiser l’inclusion des droits LGBTQI+ dans tous les exercices de suivi sur la démocratie, l’état de droit et les droits fondamentaux dans les 27 pays.
Renew Europe est un défenseur acharné des droits des minorités sexuelles. Notre Groupe s’est battu sans relâche pour l’égalité des droits et des opportunités pour les personnes LGBTQI+ dans l’UE et au-delà. Bien que la majorité des états membres à des mesures légales en place contre la discrimination, elle ne sont pas implémentées partout, laissant les membres de la communauté LGBTQI+ vulnérable aux discriminations et à la haine.
Our Commitment for the Future
While progress has been made, discrimination still persists. Too many LGBTIQ+ individuals face violence, exclusion, and legal uncertainty in their daily lives. That’s why we are committed to achieving real and lasting change in this legislature by:
✅ Expanding the rights of rainbow families across all 27 Member States
✅ Banning forced conversion therapies targeting youth
✅ Pushing for the adoption of the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive, ensuring strong equal treatment protections for LGBTIQ+ people
✅ Making the EU a safe and welcoming place of refuge for LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers
✅ Integrating LGBTIQ+ rights into all EU monitoring exercises on Democracy, Rule of Law, and Fundamental Rights across the EU27
A free and fair Europe is one where everyone, regardless of who they love or how they identify, can live without fear. Renew Europe is fighting for that future—join us.