Brussels, 8 September 2011 - The European Commission has affirmed that a blanket ban on blood donations from gay men and MSM (men who have sex with men) would be contrary to European Union law. Answering a written question from members of the European Parliament the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy indicated that EU law warranted the deferral of those “at high risk of acquiring severe infectious diseases” due to their “sexual behaviour”. Mr Dalli underlined that “‘sexual behaviour’ is not identical with ‘sexual orientation’”.

Poland 4 Mar 2011 - Following an individual complaint by the Polish Campaign against Homophobia to the Commission reported by Equal Jus on the 2nd February last wherein the Commission said that it would investigate possible barriers to the free movement of European citizens, the Minister for Equality, Elzbieta Radziszewska has annouced that she will seek a change in the law so certificates can be issued in Poland allowing same-sex couples to get married abroad.

Strasbourg, 14 Dec 2010 - The European Commission published the Green Paper on 'Less bureaucracy for citizens: promoting free movement of public documents and recognition of the effects of civil status records'. The Green Paper is the first stage in a process to make sure that public documents – such as a contract or deed to a property – circulate without the need for additional procedures, and that the effects of civil status documents – such as a birth certificate, adoption, marriage or death – are recognised wherever citizens are in the EU.