BRUSSELS — The European Commission has issued a formal recommendation urging all 27 member states to outlaw so-called conversion practices aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, describing them as 'barbaric' and rooted in a dangerous falsehood.
'Conversion practices are built on a lie. The lie that LGBTIQ+ people need to be fixed,' said Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, during a press conference on Wednesday. 'You cannot torture away a person's identity.'
The recommendation, which is non-binding, calls on national governments to enact legislation that would criminalize these interventions, raise public awareness, support victims in seeking legal redress, and strengthen psychological and medical care for those affected. The Commission plans to formally present the document early next year.
A Step Short of a Bloc-Wide Ban
While advocates had pushed for a comprehensive EU-wide prohibition through a European Citizens' Initiative that gathered over one million signatures across the bloc, the Commission opted for a softer approach. Lahbib acknowledged that a lack of unanimity among member states prevented a more forceful measure. Under Article 19 of the EU treaties, any legislation to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation requires unanimous approval from all 27 capitals — a threshold that has proven elusive, particularly given the stalled Equal Treatment Directive since 2008.
'The European Commission is sending a very clear message without ambiguity to every member state in this union: ban conversion practices now,' Lahbib said. 'Member states have an essential role to play because this largely falls under their responsibility.'
Currently, eight EU countries — Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Spain, and Portugal — have enacted bans on conversion practices, though the laws vary in scope and penalties, ranging from fines to prison sentences. Lahbib praised these nations as proof that such measures are feasible. 'They have shown it can be done,' she said. 'We are building on that momentum, calling on the rest to follow.'
Conversion practices encompass a range of interventions, including psychotherapy, medication, electroshock, and exorcism, all aimed at altering a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Widely condemned as pseudo-science, these practices are carried out by private and public health providers, faith-based organizations, state agents, and even family members, often involving abuse, violence, and humiliation.
A 2020 report endorsed by the United Nations warned that such practices can cause 'long-lasting psychological and physical damage' and urged countries worldwide to introduce national bans, including restrictions on public funding and advertising, penalties for non-compliance, and reparations for victims.
According to the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, nearly a quarter of LGBTIQ+ citizens in the bloc have experienced some form of conversion practice, with transgender women and men being the most vulnerable.
'These practices are shameful and unacceptable,' Lahbib said. 'It's not about healing or helping someone. No, it's about violence. A hidden violence.'
The recommendation comes amid broader debates in Brussels about fundamental rights and the limits of EU competence. The Commission's decision to stop short of a binding ban reflects the political reality that some member states remain resistant to harmonized legislation on social issues. However, the move also signals growing pressure on national governments to act, especially as public awareness and advocacy continue to build.
For now, the burden falls on capitals like Warsaw, Budapest, and Prague to decide whether to follow the lead of their peers. The Commission's recommendation, while non-binding, sets a clear benchmark for what it considers acceptable — and unacceptable — treatment of LGBTIQ+ citizens across the continent.
