The Macedonian Parliament has begun the process of approving a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, with lawmakers agreeing Wednesday to consider amendments put forward by government MPs.

The ruling Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity coalition of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his allies received a landslide win in elections in April of this year and it is believed they have the two-thirds majority of seats needed to change Macedonia’s constitution.

Macedonia has been asked by the European Union to lift its game on LGBTI rights however same-sex couples have no legal recognition of their relationships in the Balkan state and homosexuality was only decriminalized there in 1996 in order for Macedonia to gain entry to the Council of Europe.

A government spokesman told the Associated Press that the constitutional amendment was necessary to protect ‘traditional, family and religious values of marriage.’

In June of last year the start of Skopje Pride Week was marred when a homophobic mob of around 30 people attacked the city’s LGBTI support center, pelting the building with bottles and stones.