Poland same‑sex marriage transcription dispute

On 28 July 2026 Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal ruled unanimously that a regulation allowing the transcription of foreign same‑sex marriages into the national civil register was unconstitutional, citing the Constitution’s definition of marriage as a union of a man and a woman. The decision halted the regulation slated to take effect on 23 August 2026 and sparked a legal clash with a prior European Court of Justice ruling that requires EU members to recognise such marriages for free‑movement purposes.

A follow‑up report on 2 August 2026 reiterated the Tribunal’s judgment and noted the government’s stance that the regulation would still be implemented despite the ruling. Officials argued the decision has no legal effect, pointing to earlier national court orders that had already required transcription of a same‑sex marriage performed abroad. The dispute left couples in legal uncertainty and highlighted the tension between Poland’s constitutional interpretation and EU obligations.