The European Commission has promised to examine the case for a new law ban on conversion practices in the European Union following a petition signed by more than one million people.
The European citizens’ initiative (ECI) called ‘Ban on conversion practices in the European Union’ was approved by the European Commission for evaluation earlier this month.
The initiative obtained 1,128,063 validated statements of support from EU citizens and reached thresholds in 11 Member States, making it the 13th valid initiative that will be examined by the Commission.
Under the ECI Regulation, the European Commission is required to start an “examination process” once a petition has received at least one million certified statements of support.
The organisers of the petition must come from at least seven EU member states. The European Association Against Conversion Therapy (ACT) was set up by NGOs with representatives in France, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Ireland with the central objective of lobbying the EU for a new law.
“As the organisers, we call for a ban on interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing the sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression of LGBTQI+ citizens.
In particular, we call on the Commission to propose a directive adding conversion practices to the list of EU crimes or amend the proposed directive on equality to include a ban on conversion practices. We also call for amendments to Directive 2012/29/EU on victims’ rights to establish minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of conversion practices.”
According to the NGOs behind the campaign, five percent of LGBTI people are targeted with attempts to ‘convert them’.
The European Commission has six months to analyse the case for the new law and issue a response. It is not obliged to act, but must take the initiative seriously.
More than 18,000 people signed the petition in Ireland. In total, the ECI received 1,128,063 valid signatures.
The European Commission said it has until 18 May 2026 to “present its official reply, outlining the actions it intends to take, if any. The Commission will meet the organisers to discuss the initiative in detail in the coming weeks.”
A public hearing will then be organised by the European Parliament.