EU court orders member state to recognize gay marriage

 

Poland must accept same-sex unions registered abroad despite being illegal under the country’s law, a ruling states

Poland must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries despite such unions being illegal under the country’s national legislation, the bloc’s highest court has ruled.

In a statement on Tuesday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said Warsaw had violated EU law when it refused to recognize the marriage of two Polish nationals registered in Germany in 2018. After the couple returned to Poland, the authorities rejected their request to enter their German marriage certificate into the Polish civil registry, arguing that national law does not permit marriage between same-sex couples.

The predominantly Catholic country recognizes both civil and religious marriages but draws the line at same-sex unions, despite years of pressure from Brussels. Under the Polish Constitution, marriage is defined as “a union of a man and a woman.” 

The ECJ said the refusal to recognize the marriage violates EU guarantees on freedom of movement and the right to respect privacy and family life. Offering transcription to straight couples but not same-sex ones amounts to discrimination, the court’s press release said. The judges stressed, however, that member states remain free to decide whether to allow same-sex marriage under their domestic law.  (more...)

EU court orders member state to recognize gay marriage