LONDON — Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday that he was pushing for gay civil partnerships in Britain to be recognised across the EU, especially in eastern Europe.
Brown told gay magazine Attitude that Britain was negotiating deals with France and Spain but wanted to extend recognition for civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples to eastern Europe.
"I'm fighting to get all the countries in Europe to recognise civil partnerships carried out in Britain," Brown told the January edition of the magazine, published on Wednesday.
"We want countries where that hasn't been the case - especially in eastern Europe - to recognise them."
"Of course it will be tough, and will take many years, but that has never ever been a good reason not to fight," he added.
Belgium, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands already have same-sex marriages, while civil partnerships are conducted in several EU countries including France and Germany. A law permitting civil partnerships is due to come into effect in Austria on January 1.
But discrimination against homosexuals is widespread in some EU countries, while street marches to promote gay rights have been met with violence, an EU report released in March said.
Britain enacted legislation in 2004 introducing civil partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples legal recognition of their relationships and allowing them the same rights in areas such as work, pensions and inheritance as heterosexual couples.
Brown's comments come ahead of a general election in Britain next year, in which the fight for the gay vote among the ruling Labour and main opposition parties is expected to be fierce.
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