Slovakia and Poland defy EU mandates on same-sex marriage recognition

Slovakia and Poland are defying European Union mandates regarding the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other EU member states.

In Slovakia, the Ministry of Interior rejected an application from a queer couple to register their 2020 Austrian marriage. The decision followed alleged intervention by Prime Minister Robert Fico. Slovakia has recently implemented constitutional changes defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman and asserting national sovereignty over ethical issues to limit EU influence. The European Commission has responded by reminding the Slovakian government that rulings from the European Court of Justice are binding and take precedence over national law.

Similarly, in Poland, President Karol Nawrocki vetoed legislation aimed at granting civil union status to same-sex couples. Additionally, the Polish Constitutional Court unanimously struck down reforms intended to recognize homosexual marriages contracted elsewhere in Europe. Polish leadership cited the national constitution, which protects marriage as a union between a man and a woman, as the justification for disregarding EU Court of Justice rulings and pressure from the European Commission.