How Two Ordinary Citizens Rewrote a Fundamental European Law
The Setting of Destiny
Who can truly fight for you? The answer is simple: only you can make the change.
In 2018, the destinies of two ordinary men—part of the LGBTQAI+ community—were united in a Member State of the European Union, Berlin, Germany. Jakub Cupriak-Trojan and Mateusz Trojan exchanged vows, formalizing their deep commitment in a country that recognized their love.
The Unthinkable Refusal
Soon after, the couple decided to return home to their own Member State. Eager to have their life fully recognized, they applied to register (transcribe) their German marriage certificate with their national civil registry.
However, the national authorities flatly refused. The reason? Their home country's laws did not permit same-sex marriage, and officials claimed that registering the German certificate would be "contrary to the fundamental principles of the legal order" there.
For Jakub and Mateusz, this refusal was not just bureaucracy; it was a rejection of their status as a legitimate family and a direct infringement on their rights as European Union Citizens. It was an obstacle to their fundamental right to move and reside freely within the Union.
The European Court Steps In
Unwilling to accept this discrimination, the couple began a difficult legal battle that ultimately reached the highest judicial body of the Union: the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The case was designated C-713/23. The question for the Court was clear: Can a Member State effectively "unmarry" a legally married couple just because they cross a border?
On 25 November 2025, the CJEU delivered its definitive and historic Judgment:
“Citizenship of the Union: a Member State has the obligation to recognise a marriage between two Union citizens of the same sex that has been lawfully concluded in another Member State where they have exercised their freedom to move and to reside.”
The Result: A Victory for Millions
This meant that the Member State in question, and all others in the same legal position, must now recognize the marital status of same-sex couples married elsewhere in the EU, at least for the purposes of residency, family reunification, and free movement.
In Conclusion
This must have been a tough fight for Jakub and Mateusz, but they did not just solve their own problem; they resolved the problems of millions. We thank this couple for their courage in tackling a fundamental European issue and delivering this much-needed change.
What is your opinion on this radical shift regarding same-sex marriage recognition in the EU? Do you believe this law is fundamentally necessary, or do you think it is a categorical mistake? Let us know in the comments below!
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