In a written answer on 30 June 2026, Commissioner for Equality Helena Lahbib defended the European Commission's record on family support, rejecting claims that EU funding prioritises LGBTQ projects over family policy. The answer, responding to a parliamentary question from 24 MEPs led by Roman Haider (PfE), insists that EU policies and funding instruments 'aim to support and empower families across the EU' through initiatives such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Care Strategy, and the European Child Guarantee. Lahbib stressed that responsibility for family policy rests primarily with Member States, and that the Commission acts within its competences and the principle of subsidiarity.
The question, submitted on 10 April 2026, accused the Commission of pouring 'millions into projects, campaigns and public awareness activities' for LGBTQ visibility while neglecting families, calling the imbalance 'a political warning signal'. The MEPs asked whether the Commission would promote family and parenthood as actively as minority groups, whether it has a dedicated family strategy comparable to the LGBTQ equality strategy, and what criteria it uses to assess LGBTQ awareness campaigns.
Lahbib's answer lists several strategies that support families, including the Gender Equality Strategy, the LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy, the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child. She noted that EU Cohesion Policy funds and the European Child Guarantee provide support for home care, family care systems, and services for children and young people. On evaluation, she stated that the Commission applies standard frameworks across all programmes, measuring outputs, results, and impacts for awareness-raising campaigns, with details available online.
The answer contains no new policy announcements or numerical targets. It reaffirms existing commitments and directs attention to established strategies and funding instruments. The Commission's tone is defensive, emphasising that family support is already embedded across multiple policy areas, rather than signalling any shift in priorities or additional dedicated strategy for families.
Institutional follow-up is not specified. The answer closes the parliamentary procedure, but the issue may resurface in budget negotiations or in future questions from the same MEPs, who represent nationalist and conservative groups in the European Parliament.