Parliament approves civil union for gay couples

Greece's parliament on Wednesday approved a bill granting same-sex couples the right to a civil union, becoming one of the last European countries to give them legal recognition after years of opposition from the influential Orthodox church.

A number of EU countries including Britain, France and Spain, have legalized gay marriage, but some southern and eastern European countries have made slower progress.

The new Greek law resolves property and inheritance issues, but makes no provision for the adoption of children by the same-sex couples.