Recognized
88-538: EuroPride is a pan-European international event dedicated to LGBT pride , hosted by a different European city each year. The host city is usually one with an established pride event or a significant LGBT community. For up to a month, numerous sporting, artistic and human rights events are staged throughout the host city. EuroPride usually culminates during a weekend with a traditional Mardi Gras -style pride parade , live music , human rights conference, special club nights, and an AIDS memorial vigil . EuroPride
176-643: A civil partnership ) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage , created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples . Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage (with child adoption being a common exception, and the title itself). Civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in several, mostly developed , countries in order to provide legal recognition of relationships formed by unmarried same-sex couples and to afford them rights, benefits, tax breaks, and responsibilities similar or identical to those of legally married couples. In 1989, Denmark
264-521: A common-law marriage , which affords "most" of the rights of marriage. The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions which have established civil unions for same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples, categorized by continent, with the year in which the law establishing civil unions in the listed country or other jurisdiction came into effect in brackets: Several countries used to offer civil unions only for same-sex couples. The laws that allowed civil unions were repealed when same-sex marriage
352-462: A "European identity" has been called into question. Pan-Europeanism, as it emerged in the wake of World War I , derived a sense of European identity from the idea of a shared history , which was taken to be the source of a set of fundamental "European values". Typically, the "common history" includes a combination of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome ; the feudalism of the Middle Ages ;
440-477: A 'European citizen'. The Eurobarometer surveys show that European and national identities tend to add rather than rule themselves out. In 2009, 3 French out of 5 felt French and European, a feeling that dominated in every socio-political group except the National Front supporters. Yet this tendency is not geographically homogeneous: 63% of Britons favoured their sole nationalities (which has been one of
528-592: A EuroPride parade. The European Pride Organisers Association, which licences EuroPride and owns the trademark, has decided that a WorldPride event held in Europe also automatically carries the title of EuroPride. The first WorldPride was held in Rome in 2000 (see above). The second WorldPride was held in Jerusalem in 2005–2006. London, also hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics , beat out competing candidate, Stockholm, in
616-462: A European identity is a very complex process. From outside, "Europeanness" would be a thing for a Chinese or an American, but on the internal plan geography is not sufficient to define Europe in the eyes of Europeans. According to Jean-Baptiste Duroselle , "there has been, since men think, an immense variety of Europes". Paul Valéry cites three major heritages to define the European identity :
704-459: A civil union, as it has come to be called, is not marriage", said Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry . "It is a proposed hypothetical legal mechanism, since it doesn't exist in most places, to give some of the protections but also withhold something precious from gay people. There's no good reason to do that." However, some opponents of same-sex marriage claim that civil unions rob marriage of its unique status; Randy Thomasson, executive director of
792-465: A civil union, free from discrimination", language inserted by lawmaker José María Villalta Florez-Estrada of the Broad Front party. After the bill passed, several media outlets reported that conservative lawmakers realized the bill's implications for same-sex unions and urged President Laura Chinchilla , who is set to face Villalta in the 2014 presidential election, to use her veto power to stop
880-456: A decade after hosting EuroPride 1998. Zurich hosted EuroPride in 2009 with a month-long roster of events from 2 May to 7 June, culminating in a parade through downtown Zurich on 6 June. The 2010 event was held in Warsaw, Poland. Organisers prepared multifaceted events between July 9 to 18. The Parade took place on July 17. It marked the first time this pan-European LGBT celebration took place in
968-510: A descendant of both parties might also have access to união estável or concubinato rights. Same-sex stable cohabitation in Brazil is legally recognized nationwide since May 5, 2011. Brazil's Supreme Court voted 10–0 with one abstention to allow same-sex couples the same legal rights as married couples, following pointed recognition of such relationships that dates as far back as 2004. The ruling gave same-sex couples in such relationships
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#17327768139201056-512: A financial surplus. Paris hosted EuroPride in 1997. The festival had numerous commercial sponsors and was widely hailed as a success. During the parade, over 300,000 people marched to the Bastille . Stockholm was the host city in 1998. London was to host EuroPride again in 1999, but the event was canceled when the organisers went bankrupt. In 2000, WorldPride took place for the first time and, as has happened each time since, when WorldPride
1144-623: A former communist country. The Warsaw EuroPride formulated, as its main theme, a demand for legalisation of same sex civil partnerships . In 2011, EuroPride returned to Rome. Hosted by Claudia Gerini , the parade closed with a performance and a speech by Lady Gaga at the Circus Maximus . That year one million people took part. The 2013 EuroPride was in Marseille, France from July 10–20, focusing on gay marriage in France and celebrated
1232-634: A lesser status with fewer benefits. However, the legislatures of the West Coast states of California , Oregon and Washington have preferred the term domestic partnership for enactments similar or equivalent to civil union laws in East Coast states. Civil unions are not seen as a replacement for marriage by many in the LGBT community. "Marriage in the United States is a civil union; but
1320-552: A member of EPOA upon payment of a membership fee. This gives the organisation voting rights at the Annual General Meeting , including on votes on future EuroPride bids. Membership to EPOA automatically makes a Pride a member of InterPride , its international equivalent. EPOA has more than 130 members across Europe. The president of EPOA since October 2023 is Ukrainian human rights activist, Lenny Emson. Pan-European identity Pan-European identity
1408-432: A policy in the 70s with the directive "Television without Frontiers", which allowed free trade of TV programs and guaranteed more than half of the air time to European operas. The culture programme finances other cultural activities in order to strengthen the European common identity. The European Union also bet on symbols : the flag , the anthem (" Ode to Joy " from the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony ),
1496-699: A political neologism in the 1980s in the context of the project of European integration and the future formation of the European Union . The phrase was popularised by the European Values Study , a long-term research program started in 1981, aiming to document the outlook on "basic human values" in European populations. The project had grown out of a study group on "values and social change in Europe" initiated by Jan Kerkhofs , and Ruud de Moor ( Catholic University in Tilburg ). The claim that
1584-794: A registered civil partnership in Austria. At the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg they attempted to sue Austria for discrimination against their sexuality, because they were a heterosexual couple and were excluded from the benefits of registered partnership, but this failed. Only when the Constitutional Court of Austria opened up marriage to homosexuals in December 2018 registered partnerships also become possible for heterosexuals. After 35 years of living together,
1672-527: A supreme court ruling in 2011. In the majority of countries that established same-sex civil unions, they have since been either supplemented or replaced by same-sex marriage . Civil unions are viewed by LGBT rights campaigners as a "first step" towards establishing same-sex marriage, as civil unions are viewed by supporters of LGBT rights as a " separate but equal " or " second class " status. Many jurisdictions with civil unions recognize foreign unions if those are essentially equivalent to their own; for example,
1760-544: Is Europe in people's minds?) and identity formation (what makes people feel European?). The .eu domain name extension was introduced in 2005 as a new symbol of the European Union identity on the World Wide Web. The .eu domain's introduction campaign specifically uses the tagline "Your European Identity" . Registrants must be located within the European Union. On the cultural plan, the European Union began
1848-667: Is associated with political values derived from the Age of Enlightenment and the Republicanism growing out of the French Revolution and the Revolutions of 1848 rather than with personal or individual identity formed by culture or ethnicity (let alone a "pan-European" construct including those areas of the continent never affected by 18th-century rationalism or Republicanism). The phrase "European values" arises as
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#17327768139201936-645: Is for example The development of European Identity/Identities : Unfinished Business Aspects of an emerging "European identity" in popular culture may be seen in the introduction of "pan-European" competitions such as the Eurovision Song Contest (since 1956), the UEFA European Championship (since 1958) or, more recently, the European Games (2015). In these competitions, it is still teams or representatives of
2024-486: Is in Europe, no separate EuroPride takes place. The event took place in Rome and was well-attended by LGBT people from all over the world. After initially supporting the event, city leaders pulled their support just days before due to pressure exerted by the Vatican , which was organising its Great Jubilee . Vienna hosted the 2001 EuroPride, drawing large crowds from Central Europe. In 2002, Köln (Cologne), Germany, held
2112-482: Is legally prohibited from doing so. Cohabitation grants all rights marriage confers, with the exception of automatic opt-in for one of four systems of property share married couples have access to, and automatic right to inheritance. Potential confusion might arise regarding terminology, given how when Brazilian Portuguese refers to the term união civil , it tends to be short for casamento civil , or civil marriage. Couples that have at least one child registered as
2200-504: Is necessary: the Treaty of Lisbon mentions, for example, "cultural, religious and humanist inheritance". Moreover, it would be illusory to impose a principle of cultural homogeneity to states with various national identities. Jean-Marc Ferry considers that the European construction developed new differentiation, between citizenship and nationality for example, with the birth of post national citizenship in 1992. According to Raymond Aron ,
2288-612: Is the Carolingian Empire , which first defined "Europe" as a cultural entity as the areas ruled by the Roman Catholic Church , later known as "Medieval Western Christendom" (which extended its scope further eastwards to the shores of the Baltic Sea during the course of the Middle Ages ). The original proposal for a Paneuropean Union was made in 1922 by Count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi , who defined
2376-451: Is the sense of personal identification with Europe , in a cultural or political sense. The concept is discussed in the context of European integration , historically in connection with hypothetical proposals , but since the formation of the European Union (EU) in the 1990s increasingly with regard to the project of ever-increasing federalisation of the EU . The model of a "pan-European" union
2464-636: The European Union came to the fore with the eastern enlargement of the EU in the aftermath of the Cold War . The Treaty of Lisbon (2007) in article 2 lists a number of "values of the Union", including "respect for freedom , democracy , equality , the rule of law and respect for human rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities ", invoking "a society in which pluralism , non-discrimination , tolerance , justice , solidarity and equality between women and men prevail". Defining
2552-797: The Greek democracy , the Roman Law , and the Judeo-Christian tradition. Yet Emmanuel Berl criticizes this thesis as reductive, since it supposes a level of "Europeanness", decreasing for West to East. According to him, Europe is shape-shifting, and no culture historically prevails over another, and European Islam , which concerns around 8% of the population, is one of the many sides of European identity. Five languages have more than 50 million native speakers in Europe: Russian , German , French , Italian and English . While Russian has
2640-850: The Hanseatic League , the Renaissance ; the Age of Enlightenment ; 19th-century liberalism and different forms of socialism , Christianity and secularism ; colonialism ; and the World Wars . The oldest European unification movement is the Paneuropean Union , which was founded in 1923 with the publishment of Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi 's book Paneuropa . He also became its first president (1926–1972), followed by Otto von Habsburg (1973–2004) and Alain Terrenoire (from 2004). The movement initiated and supported
2728-618: The Netherlands passed a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, in addition to its 1998 "registered partnership" law (civil union) for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. In 2004, Senator Maria Szyszkowska proposed a bill which would legalize same-sex civil unions in Poland. The project was approved by the Senate but was never voted upon by the Sejm , as Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (then
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2816-933: The United Kingdom lists equivalent unions in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 Schedule 20 . The marriages of same-sex couples performed abroad may be recognized as civil unions in jurisdictions that only have the latter. The terms used to designate civil unions are not standardised and vary widely from country to country. Government-sanctioned relationships that may be similar or equivalent to civil unions include civil partnerships , registered partnerships , domestic partnerships , significant relationships , reciprocal beneficiary relationships , common-law marriage , adult interdependent relationships , life partnerships , stable unions , civil solidarity pacts , and so on. The exact level of rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities also varies, depending on
2904-494: The euro are the most cited. There are divergences between generations: those who knew war directly or through their parents' narrations mention peace, while the younger evoke market economy. The idea that identity is built through opposition to other groups is also confirmed since 60% of Europeans state they rather or fully agree with the idea that "compared with other continents, it is distinctly easier to see what Europeans have in common in terms of values" A recent study shows that
2992-445: The " integration process " pursued after World War II, which eventually led to the formation of the European Union . Notable "Paneuropeans" include Konrad Adenauer , Robert Schuman and Alcide De Gasperi . It has been for long a matter of discussions to know whether or not this feeling of belonging was shared by a majority of Europeans, geographically speaking, and the strength of this feeling. There are discussions as well about
3080-439: The "Pacte civil de solidarité" (PACS), it is more easily dissolved than the divorce process applying to marriage. Tax benefits accrue immediately (only from 2007 on ), while immigration benefits accrue only after the contract has been in effect for one year. The partners are required to have a common address, making it difficult for foreigners to use this law as a means to a residence permit, and difficult for French citizens to gain
3168-574: The 500 million citizens, in 24 languages, has also been addressed: in 2004, the first Vice-President of the Commission has the Communication Strategy portfolio. The common values are reasserted through the judicial action of the European Court of Human Rights . Linked to this, the European Union funds many surveys (such as Eurobarometer ) and scientific studies, to improve its identity-building policies. A collection of such studies
3256-633: The Campaign for California Families, calls civil unions "homosexual marriage by another name" and contends that civil unions provide same-sex couples "all the rights of marriage available under state law". The California Supreme Court, in the In Re Marriage Cases decision, noted nine differences in state law. Civil unions are commonly criticised as being ' separate but equal '; critics such as former New Zealand MP and feminist Marilyn Waring note that same-sex couples remain excluded from
3344-521: The Constitutional Court ruled that cohabitating same-sex couples must be given all rights offered to unmarried heterosexual couples, making Colombia the first Latin American country to fully grant this right to all its citizens. Couples can claim these rights after living together for two years. Colombia has since approved same-sex marriage. The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica passed a bill in early July 2013 that "confers social rights and benefits of
3432-422: The EU has been enlarged from 12 to 27 member states, far beyond the area originally envisaged for the "pan-European" state by Coudenhove-Kalergi (with the exception of Switzerland ), its member states accounting for a population of some 447 million, or three-fifths of the population of the entire continent. In the 1990s to 2000s, there was an active movement towards further consolidation of the European Union, with
3520-747: The Oireachtas, and came into effect on 1 January 2011. The first partnership between two men was registered on 7 February 2011. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 2015 following a referendum . Civil unions in Italy began in 2016. Civil unions in Liechtenstein began in 2011. Civil unions in Monaco began in 2020. Civil unions in Montenegro began in 2020. In 2001,
3608-538: The Soviet Union, "Asia", Great Britain and the United States (as such explicitly excluding both the British Isles and the areas that were influenced by Byzantine Christendom , which are usually considered a part of geographical Europe, from his notion of "pan-European"). After 1948, an accelerating process of European integration culminated in the formation of the EU in 1993. In the period from 1995–2020,
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3696-442: The accusations of apartheid. Proponents of civil unions say that they provide practical equality for same-sex couples and solve the problems over areas such as hospital visitation rights and transfer of property caused by lack of legal recognition. Proponents also say that creating civil unions is a more pragmatic way to ensure that same-sex couples have legal rights as it avoids the more controversial issues surrounding marriage and
3784-573: The biggest gay wedding in Europe The 2016 EuroPride returned to Amsterdam. UK singer/songwriter Tara McDonald sang her single "I Need A Miracle" which was chosen as the EuroPride anthem and was remixed by Gregor Salto. There was no EuroPride in 2017 as WorldPride took place in Madrid. In June 2019, President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen became the first head of state to address
3872-683: The bill from becoming law. Chinchilla, who has suggested the courts should determine the legality of same-sex unions in Costa Rica, refused and signed the bill into law on 4 July. A gay couple has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica asking that their union be recognized under the new law. Gay rights activists reacting to the law said it needs to survive a constitutional challenge in court. Some constitutional lawyers stated that same-sex couples will "still lack legal capacity" to formalize their unions, despite passage of
3960-537: The bill. The 2008 Constitution of Ecuador enacted civil unions between two people without regard to gender, giving same-sex couples the same rights as legally married heterosexual couples except for the right to adopt. In Europe: In 2018, Minister of Justice Josef Moser announced that both marriage and registered partnership would be open to homosexuals and heterosexuals. This occurred because Helga Ratzenböck and Martin Seydl have been appealing for years in court for
4048-468: The change of terms in the laws related to gay marriage and adoptions. Madrid was one of the first Spanish cities celebrating the legalization of gay marriage, with the support of all political parties, even the conservatives in the Government, headed by the ex-mayor of the city, Alberto Ruíz Gallardón from Partido Popular. Due to these and other advances in same-sex freedom and social progress, Madrid
4136-601: The church blesses people, not institutions. The new law makes same-sex marriages in churches possible, but allows vicars to decline marriages of same-sex couples in their church. On 17 March 2009, the Folketing introduced a bill that gave same-sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt jointly . This bill was approved on 4 May 2010 and took effect on 1 July 2010. The French law providing benefits to same-sex couples also applies to opposite-sex couples who choose this form of partnership over marriage. Known as
4224-627: The city's busiest shopping streets, the first time they had been legally allowed to do so. The parade was attended by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone , Conservative MP Alan Duncan , human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell , and the first transgender MEP , Italian Vladimir Luxuria . Following the parade, events were held in three of the capital's squares: a rally in Trafalgar Square addressed by Ian McKellen, and entertainment in Leicester and Soho Squares . EuroPride 2006 marked
4312-457: The claim that the term has a religious source. Many supporters of same-sex marriage state that the word 'marriage' matters and that the term 'civil union' (and its equivalents) do not convey the emotional meaning or bring the respect that comes with marriage. Former US Solicitor General and attorney in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case Theodore Olsen said that recognizing same-sex couples under
4400-504: The common-law marriage, de facto status or unregistered cohabitation. Registered relationship recognition in state Governments: Registered relationship recognition in 5 local government areas within Australia: Cohabitation grants 112 benefits as family entities in Brazil since 2002. It is known as união estável when both parts are legally authorized to marry, and as concubinato when at least one party
4488-449: The construction can predate the European sentiment, but the last is essential to avoid a fictional Europe, a Europe that would only be a meaningless word in which the people do not recognize themselves. This idea is backed by Jacques Delors , who wrote in 1992 that it is needed to "give Europe a soul, [...] a spirituality, a meaning" beyond the simple economic and administrative realities. Civil union A civil union (also known as
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#17327768139204576-405: The existing organisation through National Olympic Committees . In 2007, European Commission President Romano Prodi suggested that EU teams should carry the European flag, alongside the national flag, at the 2008 Summer Olympics – a proposal which angered eurosceptics . According to Eurobarometer surveys, only 5% of respondents think that a European Olympic team would make them feel more of
4664-457: The extent of the division over European identity are greater than that of national identity and even comparable to the magnitude of religious divide in most of countries included in the study. Moreover, it shows that outgroup derogation dominates ingroup favoritism in 22 out of 25 countries. The risk, defining a European identity, is to close up from other cultures that would not correspond to pre-defined criteria. To face this difficulty, vagueness
4752-469: The fall of 2008 to hold WorldPride 2012, which was held from 23 June to 8 July. WorldPride 2017 was held in Madrid, and WorldPride 2021 was held in Copenhagen , Denmark . Madrid's EuroPride 2007 was the most well-attended event at the time, with an estimated 2.5 million visitors. This huge attendance was not only a success for Madrid, but for the whole LGBT Spanish community, due to the celebration of
4840-743: The final parade as it passed through the downtown streets of Alcalá , and Gran Vía , ending up at Plaza de España . For the first time, Madrid City Hall contributed financing to the MADO (Madrid Orgullo) organisation. In addition, a private event, the Infinitamentegay Party, took place in Casa de Campo Park. In 2008, the Stockholm Pride organization organised EuroPride for a second time, held from 25 June to 3 August in Stockholm,
4928-523: The first formal meeting of EPOA was convened in Copenhagen in 1995. EPOA is a small organisation with eight elected board members, all of whom serve with Pride organisations in Europe. It has no paid staff, and has its headquarters in Brussels , Belgium . The board meets several times each year, often holding a meeting in a city holding its Pride event that weekend. Any Pride organisation can become
5016-519: The first time that London's main pride rally and entertainment areas were staged within the city itself, rather than in open parks. In 2007, Madrid hosted EuroPride, which took place in Chueca , the capital's gay village , during the last week in June. Madrid was chosen because of the gay marriage and gender identity laws Spain had passed during the previous two years. More than 1.2 million people attended
5104-571: The individual nations of Europe that are competing against one another, but a "European identity" many argued to arise from the definition the "European" participants (often loosely defined, e.g. including Morocco, Israel and Australia in the case of the Eurovision Song Contest), and the emergence of "cultural rites" associated with these events. In the 1990s and 2000s, participation in the Eurovision Song Contest
5192-480: The introduction of symbols and institutions usually reserved for sovereign states, such as citizenship , a common currency (used by 20 out of 27 members), a flag , an anthem and a motto ( In Varietate Concordia , "United in Diversity"). An attempt to introduce a European Constitution was made in 2004, but it failed to be ratified; instead, the Treaty of Lisbon was signed in 2007 in order to salvage some of
5280-538: The largest number of native speakers (more than 100 million in Europe), English has the largest number of speakers in total, including some 200 million speakers of English as a second language . There is no final account of all European languages , but the sole EU recognizes 24 official languages. For some, the linguistic diversity is constituent of European identity. The European institutions made several concrete attempts to reinforce two things: identity contents (what
5368-549: The law was passed with 194 positive votes (out of 300). Civil unions in Hungary began in 2009. Iceland does not have a comprehensive legal act on civil unions ( Icelandic : óvígð sambúð ). Instead, various laws deal with civil unions and their meaning. When Iceland legalised same-sex marriages in 2010, the Act on Registered Partnerships (87/1996) was abolished. Registered partnerships ( Icelandic : staðfest samvist ) had been
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#17327768139205456-655: The laws of a particular country. Some jurisdictions allow same-sex couples to adopt, while others forbid them to do so, or allow adoption only in specified circumstances. In the United States , the term civil union was introduced in the state of Vermont in 2000 to connote a status equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples; it was chosen by the state's legislators in preference to phrases such as "domestic partner relationship" or "civil accord". Domestic partnership , offered by some states, counties, cities, and employers since as early as 1985, has generally connoted
5544-451: The main explanations of the Brexit vote), against 27% Luxembourgian. The 2012 Eurobarometer survey reported that 49% of those surveyed described the EU member states as "close" in terms of "shared values" (down from 54% in 2008), 42% described them as "different" (up from 34% in 2008). During these surveys, the respondents are asked which notions they spontaneously associate with the EU. Democracy , Human Rights , Freedom of movement and
5632-532: The most important is the Film of the year. They are restricted to European cinema and European producers, directors, and actors. The Ryder Cup golf competition is a biennial event, originally between a British and an American team, but since 1979 admitting continental European players to form a "Team Europe". The flag of Europe was used to represent "Team Europe" since 1991, but reportedly most European participants preferred to use their own national flags. There have also been attempts to use popular culture for
5720-431: The motto " In varietate concordia ", the two Europe days . Great cultural unifying events are organised, such as the European heritage days , or the election of the Capital of Culture. The youth mobility has been encouraged since the launching of the Erasmus programme in 1987, which has permitted students to go to 33 European countries. The challenge of communication, to make the European project more understandable to
5808-686: The people of Europe have a distinctive set of political, economic and social norms and values that are gradually replacing national values has also been named "Europeanism" by McCormick (2010). "European values" were contrasted to non-European values in international relations, especially in the East–West dichotomy , "European values" encompassing individualism and the idea of human rights in contrast to Eastern tendencies of collectivism. However, "European values" were also viewed critically, their "darker" side not necessarily leading to more peaceful outcomes in international relations. The association of "European values" with European integration as pursued by
5896-437: The principal legal unions for same-sex partners since the law was passed in 1996. In 2010, the lower house of the Irish Parliament Dáil Éireann passed the bill on Civil Partnerships unanimously. This bill allows civil partnerships of same-sex couples, and establishes an extensive package of rights, obligations and protections for same-sex couples who register as civil partners. The bill passed all stages of in both Houses of
5984-438: The propagation of "identification with the EU" on the behalf of the EU itself. These attempts have proven controversial. In 1997, the European Commission distributed a comic strip titled The Raspberry Ice Cream War , aimed at children in schools. The EU office in London declined to distribute this in the UK, due to an expected unsympathetic reception for such views. Captain Euro , a cartoon character superhero mascot of Europe,
6072-431: The question of the objective factors or "Europeanness". An approach underlines how, for being European, a person would at least have to: Usually, four steps are considered as conditions in the building of cultural and political identity: One of the clearly stated political objectives of the European Union is the deepening of the European identity feeling. Especially in France, "the European idea" ( l'idée d'Europe )
6160-417: The reforms that had been envisaged in the constitution. A debate on the feasibility and desirability of a "pan-European identity" or "European identity" has taken place in parallel to this process of political integration. A possible future "European identity" is seen at best as one aspect of a "multifaceted identity" still involving national or regional loyalties. Two authors writing in 1998 concluded that "In
6248-446: The right to live with a foreign partner – especially since the contract does not automatically give immigration rights, as marriage does. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of marriages decreased while the number of PACS strongly increased. In 2010, there were 3 PACS for every 4 marriages celebrated in France. Especially amongst heterosexual couples PACS is very popular, with 96 out of 100 PACS couples being heterosexual in
6336-581: The right to marry and are forced to use a separate institution. Supporters of same-sex marriage contend that treating same-sex couples differently from other couples under the law allows for inferior treatment and that if civil unions were the same as marriage there would be no reason for two separate laws. A New Jersey commission which reviewed the state's civil union law reported that the law "invites and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children". Some have suggested that creating civil unions which are open to opposite-sex couples would avoid
6424-576: The same financial and social rights enjoyed by those in mixed-sex ones. A union between two women and one man was reported in August 2012, though its legality was doubted. In Canada : were extended to same-sex couples before the enactment of the federal Civil Marriage Act which legalized same-sex marriage in Canada nationally. The 1994 proposed Equality Rights Statute Amendment Act in Ontario
6512-413: The short term, it seems that the influence of this project [of European integration] will only influence European identity in certain limited niches and in a very modest way. It is doubtful if this will do to ensure a smooth process of ongoing European integration and successfully address the challenges of the multicultural European societies." Even at that time, the development of a common European identity
6600-512: The term "pan-European" as referring to this historical sense of the western and central parts of continental Europe encompassing the cultures that evolved from medieval Western Christendom (i.e. Catholic and Protestant Europe, with the exception of the British Isles) instead of the modern geographic definition of the continent of Europe . Coudenhove-Kalergi saw the pan-European state as a future "fifth great power", in explicit opposition to
6688-573: The term 'domestic partnership' stigmatizes gay people's relationships, treating them as if they were "something akin to a commercial venture, not a loving union". Many also contend that the fact that civil unions are often not understood can cause difficulty for same-sex couples in emergency situations. As of July 18, 2024, the states that provide civil unions but not marriage for same-sex couples are: In Israel , no national domestic authority performs same-sex marriage, though couples may marry abroad. In addition, same-sex couples may be considered to have
6776-411: The then-biggest ever EuroPride; officials estimated crowds to number well over one million. EuroPride was hosted by Manchester in 2003, and Hamburg in 2004. Oslo hosted it in 2005, with Ian McKellen as the guest of honour. London hosted the event in 2006, organising a two-week festival culminating in a parade on the final day (1 July) in which marchers were invited to walk down Oxford Street , one of
6864-563: The two entered into a registered partnership in 2019. Civil unions were introduced in Denmark by law on 7 June 1989, the world's first such law, and came into effect on 1 October 1989. On 7 June 2012, the law was replaced by a new same-sex marriage law, which came into effect on 15 June 2012. Registered partnership was by civil ceremony only, but the Church of Denmark allowed priests to perform blessings of same-sex couples, as it stated that
6952-503: The year 2019. Civil unions in Germany began in 2001. In 2017, registered life partnership was replaced with marriage, with any couple regardless of sex allowed to marry. Greek parliament voted in favor of a Cohabitation Pact ( Greek : Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης) giving almost the same rights as marriage to couples regardless of their sex. The draft was approved in the relevant Greek parliament committee and during voting on 22 December 2015,
7040-426: Was a notable early attempt to introduce a status similar to civil unions. It was supported by the provincial government but was defeated in the legislature. Some provinces and territories amended their family law to extend statutory benefits to same-sex couples that were equivalent to those granted to unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex couples without establishing a specific name for the partnership. For example, Ontario
7128-543: Was chosen in 2012 to host WorldPride 2017. The European Pride Organisers Association (often shortened to EPOA or EuroPride ) owns the EuroPride trademark and licenses its use to one Pride organisation each year. Pride organisers from across Europe discussed the creation of a European network at conferences of InterPride and the International Lesbian & Gay Association (ILGA) in the early 1990s, and
7216-607: Was developed in the 1990s by branding strategist Nicolas De Santis to support the launch of the Euro currency. In 2014, London branding think tank, Gold Mercury International, launched the Brand EU Centre, with the purpose of solving Europe's identity crisis and creating a strong brand of Europe. In 2005, the Institut Aspen France proposed the creation of a European Olympic Team, which would break with
7304-470: Was inaugurated in London in 1992, attended by estimated crowds of over 100,000. The following year, Berlin hosted the festivities. When Amsterdam hosted EuroPride in 1994, it turned into a financial disaster, leaving debts of approximately 450,000 euros. In 1996, EuroPride moved to Copenhagen, where it enjoyed strong support from city leaders. The organisers were successful on all fronts but not able to achieve
7392-771: Was legalized. The following is a list of countries and other jurisdictions that used to offer civil unions for same-sex couples with the years in which they were available in brackets: Since 2003, the Argentine province of Río Negro and the city of Buenos Aires allow domestic partnerships. The City of Villa Carlos Paz (Córdoba) allowed it from 2007. Since 2009, the city of Río Cuarto (Córdoba) allows Civil Unions. All levels of Australian Governments under nearly all Australian statutes do recognise same-sex couples as de facto couples as unregistered co-habitation or de facto status since 2009. From 1 July 2009 Centrelink recognised same-sex couples equally regarding social security – under
7480-494: Was required to amend its family law legislation in 1999 in response to the Supreme Court of Canada 's ruling in M v H . In 2007, Colombia came close to passing a law granting legal recognition to same-sex couples, but the bill failed on final passage in one house of the national legislature. However, a court decision in October 2007 extended social security and health insurance rights to same-sex couples. On January 29, 2009,
7568-542: Was the first country to legalise civil unions, for same-sex couples; however most other developed democracies did not begin establishing civil unions until the 1990s or early 2000s, often developing them from less formal domestic partnerships . While civil unions are often established for both opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples, in a number of countries they are available to same-sex couples only. In Brazil , civil unions were first created for opposite-sex couples in 2002, and then expanded to include same-sex couples through
7656-585: Was to some extent perceived as a politically significant confirmation of nationhood and of "belonging to Europe" by the then-recently independent nations of Eastern Europe. Pan-European events not organised along national lines include the European Film Awards , presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in over ten categories, of which
7744-551: Was viewed as rather a by-product than the main goal of the European integration process, even though it was actively promoted by both EU bodies and non-governmental initiatives, such as the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission . With the rise of EU-scepticism and opposition to continued European integration by the early 2010s, the feasibility and desirability of such
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