European Commission: Recognition of same-sex couples is a prerequisite for Ukraine's accession to the EU

The European Commission has officially stated that, for successful integration into the European Union, Ukraine must pass a law ensuring legal recognition and protection of same-sex couples. This requirement is directly linked to Ukraine’s fulfillment of its obligations under the accession negotiations (the “Fundamentals” Cluster, Section 23) and its compliance with European human rights standards.

Reactions to the New Civil Code

The European Commission’s official response was prompted by a petition from the Ukrainian civil society organizations “Tochka Opori” and “Ukrainian LGBT Military Personnel for Equal Rights.” The activists expressed concern Bill No. 14394, which presents a new version of the Civil Code of Ukraine, registered in January 2026. According to human rights advocates, the current draft of the document:

• Prohibits the recognition of marriages in cases where one of the spouses has changed their gender.
• In effect, it “cements” the definition of marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, blocking the possibility of introducing civil partnerships in the future.

International Obligations and Legal Precedents

The European Commission reminded Ukrainian authorities of the need to follow the “Roadmap on the Rule of Law” and to take into account the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case "Maimulakhin and Markiv v. Ukraine". In 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Ukraine’s lack of a legal framework for registering same-sex relationships constitutes a violation of their right to family life.

Civil Society Monitoring and Advocacy

The European Commission intends to closely monitor compliance with this obligation and raise the issue of protecting the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals during regular monitoring meetings and official dialogues with Ukrainian authorities.

Representatives of the LGBT community, particularly those in the military, emphasize that the introduction of civil partnerships is a prerequisite not only for EU accession, but also for closer ties with NATO, under which Ukraine also has obligations to care for veterans from minority groups. At present, activists are conducting advocacy efforts at the international level, having secured the support of Norwegian lawmakers as well as the military attachés of Canada and the United Kingdom.

Human rights advocates are currently calling for public hearings on the new Civil Code to prevent the erosion of existing rights and to incorporate the concept of same-sex couples into the law.