I note with great regret the decision of the Serbian authorities to ban the Belgrade Pride Parade for the second year in a row on security grounds. The European Union is first and foremost a community of values based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. These include freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and non-discrimination on the basis of gender, racial or ethnic origins, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
These are values upon which European Union is built, and it is essential that Serbia, as a candidate country for membership, respects them.
I would urge the Serbian authorities to fully protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in Serbia. Furthermore, I fully expect the Serbian authorities to investigate and bring to justice those whose threats and intimidation were judged sufficiently serious to ban the parade on security grounds.