A book of fairy tales in Lithuania featuring same-sex couples has been labelled “harmful”, and inappropriate for children under 14.

The book “Gintarine sirdis”, or “Amber heart”, contains fairy tales about minorities, and has already been removed from shelves, as well as the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, which published it.

The Office of the Inspector of Journalist Ethics concluded that the book should be banned for under 14s.

The Office considered that the book is “harmful, primitive and purposeful propaganda of homosexuality.”

As well as same-sex couples, the book also contains interracial relationships, stories about gender equality and the acceptance of other minorities.

A 2010 law under which the book was banned does not specifically refer to homosexual relations, but instead the “promotion of sexual relations or other conceptions of concluding a marriage or creating a family other than established in the Constitution or the Civil Code”.

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, said: “This is a blatant violation of EU values. The EU guarantees freedom of expression, and the liberty to receive and impart information—including fairy tales! Like all other EU citizens, Lithuanians are entitled to this fundamental freedom.”

“The Commission cannot continue turning a blind eye, and it must act now!”

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “What fairy tales do these ‘experts’ live in? What’s next, banning Snow White for promoting the concept of seven cohabiting dwarves?”

“What children need, like all people, is honest and non-discriminatory information about all forms of partnership and family. Hiding facts from young people only generates prejudice and hate, something we Europeans stand united against.”

“We’ll work strongly against this as soon as the EU election is over.”