• The EU will not impose a ban on LGBTQ+ 'conversion therapy' but will recommend action against it.
• Over a million signatures called for a binding legal ban, but the EU cites limitations on its legal authority.
• Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Spain already have bans in place.
• The EU's commitment to enhancing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals was emphasized by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The European Union has stated it will not implement a blanket ban on “conversion therapy” targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. Instead, it will push its member states to take their own measures against such practices. President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that conversion practices “have no place in our Union,” emphasizing the need for action while acknowledging the EU’s legal limitations on enacting direct bans, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

This decision comes despite a significant public petition with over a million signatures advocating for a binding ban on these harmful practices, which aim to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib has condemned these practices as a form of “covert violence,” and highlighted the need for member states to consider implementing national bans, according to Los Angeles Times and Le Monde.

Currently, only eight of the EU’s 27 member nations, including Belgium, France, and Spain, have enacted bans on conversion therapy, illustrating a fragmented approach to protecting LGBTQ+ rights across Europe. The EU agency noted troubling statistics, asserting that one in four LGBTQ+ citizens have reported experiencing such discredited practices, prompting calls for more unified action, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.