EU free movement law and the legal recognition of same-sex relationships: the case for mutual recognition

Tryfonidou, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0639-0356 (2015) EU free movement law and the legal recognition of same-sex relationships: the case for mutual recognition. Columbia Journal of European Law, 21 (2). pp. 195-248. ISSN 1076-6715

Abstract/Summary

This article seeks to examine the cross-border legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the EU. Although the Member States maintain an exclusive competence in the field of family law and, thus, it is up to them to determine whether they will provide a legal status to same-sex couples within their territory, they need to exercise their powers in that field in a way that does not violate EU law. This, it is suggested, requires that Member States mutually recognize the legal status of same-sex couples and do not treat same-sex couples worse than opposite-sex couples, if the basis of the differentiation is, merely, the (homosexual) sexual orientation of the two spouses/partners. Nonetheless, the current legal framework does not make it clear that Member States are under such an obligation. The main argument of the article, therefore, is that the EU must adopt a more hands-on approach towards this issue.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/45073
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Law
Publisher	Columbia University
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