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The
EU says LGBT rights must be respected in all member states, but
Poland's ruling nationalist party has made anti-gay policies
part of its governing platform.
In March it explicitly banned same-sex couples from adopting
children, while more than 100 towns and areas have declared
themselves "LGBT-free".
"We are checking if there is a violation of EU treaties" in the
creation of those zones, said one EU official, adding the
process has not yet been completed. A second official confirmed
the Brussels-based executive is looking into the issue.
Known as an infringement procedure, such a legal action would
challenge Poland to eliminate the zones which, if not complied
with, could lead to hefty fines.
Asked to comment, a Polish government spokesman said: "There are
no laws in Poland that would discrimate against people based on
their sexual orientation."
Poland is already under a special EU probe for undercutting the
rule of law.
The governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has repeatedly clashed
with the EU over democratic values as it brought courts and
media under more state control, curbed women's rights and
rejected immigration from the Middle East and Africa.
Despite such pressure and the fact that Poland is a major
beneficiary of EU financial aid, Warsaw has largely refused to
change tack, saying it must defend the country's traditional,
Catholic customs.
(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, additional reporting by Joanna
Plucinska; editing by John Stonestreet)
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