Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos presented an omnibus bill extending the civil partnership union to homosexual couples for public consultation. The European Court of Human Rights had condemned an exclusion clause in the previous bill.
Paraskevopoulos added that his ministry was considering allowing adoption by homosexual couples, though no decisions have been taken yet. As it is, the draft bill recognizes rights which ensure family life and respect for equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation.
The minister said that it gives homosexual couples similar status to married couples in rights such as insurance, pension and a right to alimony. It also allows couples to regulate their assets, maintaining – if they wish – their wealth independence to a greater extent than married couples.