The European Green Party, Greens/EFA Members of the European Parliament and SENS Romania on Saturday called on the Romanian government and mayor of the western city of Oradea to allow the city’s Pride march to take place “safely and on a visible route through the city.”
The groups said that for four consecutive years, the organizers, local LGBTQIA+ organization Ark Oradea, have been prevented from holding a Pride march in the city.
It said that reports indicated that this year local authorities routes proposed by the organizers, and instead offer only a static gathering point, showing this is more than an administrative technicality.
“LGBTQI+ people will not stand for this repression of their rights in Oradea, and nor should they. No municipality in the European Union should be allowed to create de facto ‘Pride-free zones’ through bureaucratic obstruction.
Human rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly and non-discrimination, are not optional, they must be respected and protected everywhere. Any attempt to undermine these rights or prevent their peaceful exercise is unacceptable and has no place in a democratic society. We will continue to stand firmly in defense of these fundamental freedoms,” said Vula Tsetsi, EGP Co-Chair.
“Banning Pride not only goes against a plethora of laws, the European Convention on Human Rights and the core values of the European Union, but it is also a sign of democratic backsliding that has no place in our Union.
As the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup we have urged the Oradea Municipal Commission to engage constructively with the organizers, and we will be following the situation closely to make sure that everyone can enjoy the right to assembly,” said Greens/EFA MEP and co-president of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament Kim van Sparrentak.
“Romania cannot allow itself to become what Hungary used to be like under Viktor Orbán’s government. We will not allow that, either at the level of the European Union or in Romania.
I fully condemn the decision of the Mayor’s Office of Oradea, a decision that is isolated from European reality. Pride is a manifestation of freedom, and no city in Europe can become an island where freedom is forbidden.
All European institutions will take note of this decision and contest it. We urge mayor Florin Birta to provide the space and freedom for those who wish to celebrate Pride in Oradea,” said Greens/EFA MEP from Romania and Vice President of the European Parliament Nicolae Ștefănuță.
“At SENS, we believe in a society built on solidarity, equality and respect for human dignity. We stand firmly with the LGBTQIA+ community across Romania, including in Oradea, in demanding the right to exercise their fundamental freedoms.”
“This is not a favor to be granted at the whim of a mayor or local council. It is a fundamental right that public institutions are legally required to facilitate and protect.”
“The local authorities in Oradea must understand that a city cannot benefit from EU solidarity and funding while disregarding the EU’s core values and still credibly call itself a “European city”. We therefore expect the Romanian authorities to act in accordance with national and European law to safeguard freedom of assembly.”
“SENS will be on the streets of Oradea on 25 July to help ensure that these rights and values are upheld,” said Florina Presadă, Vice President of the SENS party in Romania.
The European Greens and SENS welcome the extraordinary mobilization of Romanian and international civil society. More than 125 organizations, including ILGA Europe, EPOA (European Pride Organizers Association), IGLYO, OII Europe – Organization Intersex International Europe, Council for Global Equality, TGEU, Forbidden Colours and numerous European partners have called on the Romanian authorities to guarantee the freedom of peaceful assembly and protect the civic space in Oradea.
A delegation of the SENS party will participate in Oradea Pride on 25 July, standing alongside the local LGBTQIA+ community and monitoring the conduct of public authorities throughout the event. The European Greens will continue to closely follow developments and expect Romanian authorities to fully respect their obligations under national, European and international law.
