EUROPEAN UNION A new European Parenthood Certificate was approved by the European Union Parliament on Dec. 14, which included the recognition of same-sex parents.
With 366 votes against 145 and 23 abstentions, MEPs backed draft legislation to ensure that, when parenthood is established by an EU country, the rest of the member states will recognize it.
The aim is to make sure that children enjoy the same rights under national law regarding education, healthcare, custody or succession.
When it comes to establishment of parenthood at national level, member states will be able to decide whether to, for example, accept surrogacy, but they will be required to recognize parenthood established by another EU country irrespective of how the child was conceived, born or the type of family it has.