Italy and Greece set to introduce gay civil unions

Italy and Greece have each passed historic motions that could see same-sex civil unions introduced in both nations over the coming months.

The Lower House of Italy’s parliament passed a motion yesterday (June 10) committing the government to promote the introductions of gay civil unions for the first time, Gay Star News reports.

Proposed by the ruling Democratic Party, the motion commits the government “to promote the adoption of a law on civil unions, particularly with regard to the condition of the people of same sex,” and to ”ensure equal treatment throughout the nation.’

Several similar motions have been rejected in Italy in the past, and following Ireland’s historic referendum last month, the socially conservative Catholic nation is currently the only country in Western Europe not to recognise same-sex relationships in any form.

Meanwhile, Greece’s radical-left government also introduced a bill on civil unions yesterday for the first time, according to Gay Star News.

The legislation – which is widely expected to pass – will be voted on next month and would extend insurance, taxation, inheritance rights to gay couples, but not adoption.

“With the enactment of a new civil union pact, Greece will cease to be one of the last European countries where same-sex couples do not receive some kind of official recognition for their relationship,” the justice ministry said in a statement.

If passed, Greece would become just the second Balkan state to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples, after Croatia introduced civil unions last year.

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