The European Parliament is calling for more harmonisation for recognition of same-sex marriages and partnerships in the EU.

Rainbow families and same-sex couples must enjoy the same freedom of movement and family reunification rights as everyone else, the the European Parliament's petitions committee stated.

It said that action should be taken against Romania, Hungary and Poland for rights issues and breaches of EU values.

MEPs also said the EU should lift obstacles that LGBTIQ people still face when exercising their basic rights in the EU.

In a resolution on the rights of LGBTIQ persons in the EU - adopted with 21 votes in favour, 8 against and 4 abstaining -  the petitions committee noted its concern that these individuals still face discrimination in the EU.

They should be able to fully exercise their rights, including free movement, and concrete EU action is needed to remedy the situation, MEPs said.

MEPs also stated that marriages or registered partnerships formed in one member state must be recognised in all states, and spouses and partners must be treated the same as opposite-sex people would be.

The committee argued that freedom of movement of LGBTIQ persons cannot be restricted by national laws, such as bans on same-sex marriage.

The rights of same-sex couples must be ensured, following the European Court of Justice ruling Coman & Hamilton, which found that “spouse” provisions in the Free Movement Directive also apply to same-sex couples.

MEPs noted that Romania still does not comply with the judgment, and encouraged the Commission to take enforcement action against it.

With rainbow families, the committee urged the acceptance of the adults mentioned in a child’s birth certificate as their legal parents everywhere in EU. More generally, rainbow families must have the same right to family reunification as opposite-sex couples and their families, said MEPs.

The short motion for resolution will be tabled for the September plenary of the European Parliament.