European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Brussels believes, for now, that it does not have the legal powers to “effectively” ban conversion therapies — which, says European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, responsible for the Equality portfolio, are “a shameful practice, an unacceptable practice, disguised violence”.
The European Commission announced this Wednesday that it will not ban conversion therapies for LGBTQIA+ people, but will encourage European countries to do it. Brussels considers, for now, not having legal competencies to ban conversion therapies “effectively.”
Various personalities, such as the Belgian singer Angela and former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attalhad released a petition in May 2025, calling on the European Union to ban these practices.
Conversion therapies, which, for example, equate homosexuality with an illness, wrongly claim to be able to change sexual orientation or a person’s gender identity.
These therapies can take the form of courses, exorcism sessions or even electroshock.
All these practiceshave no place in our Union”, highlighted the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenthis Wednesday.
“It is a shameful practice, an unacceptable practice. It’s not about care, it’s violence in disguise. No one should have to go through this”, added European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, responsible for the Equality portfolio.
The Commission took this decision for fear of facing legal obstacles and exceed the prerogatives of Member States. Therefore, you will transfer the responsibility for countries.
Brussels committed, this Wednesday, to presenting a text in 2027 in which will recommend to the 27 EU countries that they ban these practicesbut without forcing them to do so.
A response that goes “in the right direction”, but considered “too timid” by lesbian MEP Melissa Camarataking into account “the damage and trauma caused by these practices”.
Conversion therapies are currently banned in eight European Union countries: France, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Malta, PortugalSpain and Greece.
