CJEU: Cupriak-Trojan and Trojan v. Wojewoda Mazowiecki (Case C-713/23)
Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages and the Limits of Member State Autonomy under EU Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2026.10.1.1466Keywords:
Union Citizenship, Free Movement of Persons, Same-Sex Marriage, Recognition of Civil Status, Transcription of Marriage Certificates, Charter of Fundamental Rights, Non-Discrimination, Family LifeAbstract
The present commentary examines the recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Cupriak-Trojan case, which addresses the obligation of Member States to recognise the civil status of same-sex marriages lawfully concluded in another Member State in the context of free movement. The commentary first outlines the factual background of the case and the CJEU’s conclusions. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between Cupriak-Trojan and the earlier judgment in Coman and Others, highlighting both continuity and development in the CJEU’s approach to the recognition of same-sex relationships. While Coman concerned derived residence rights, Cupriak-Trojan extends the CJEU’s reasoning to the broader issue of civil status recognition in the Member State of origin. Subsequently, the commentary assesses the implications of the judgment for the relationship between Union citizenship and Member State competence in the field of family law. It highlights the CJEU’s approach to balancing the free movement of Union citizens with considerations of national identity and public policy, as well as the role of non-discrimination and the protection of family life. Finally, the commentary evaluates the broader significance of the Cupriak-Trojan judgment within the evolving case-law of the CJEU on the cross-border recognition of civil status, and its potential impact on national legal systems which do not provide for same-sex marriage, particularly with regard to the requirement to ensure effective and non-discriminatory mechanisms of recognition.
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Legislation
Civil Code of Romania (Legea nr. 287/2009)
Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania (2000 m. liepos 18 d. Nr. VIII-1864)
Consolidated Version of the Treaty on European Union [2020] OJ C202/1
Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union [2020] OJ C202/47
Constitutional Act No 255/2025 Coll, art 7(6), amending the Constitution of the Slovak Republic
Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria
Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Dz. U. 1997 No. 78, item 483)
Constitution of the Slovak Republic (No. 460/1992 Coll.)
Czech Civil Code (Act No. 89/2012 Coll.)
Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States [2004] OJ L158/77
French Civil Code
Law on Civil Status Records (Prawo o aktach stanu cywilnego; of 28 November 2014 (Dz. U., item 1741)) (Poland)
Table of cases
Court of Justice of the European Union
Case C-443/15 David L Parris v Trinity College Dublin and Others EU:C:2016:897
Case C-673/16 Coman and Others v. Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări and Ministerul Afacerilor Interne EU:C:2018:385
Case C-490/20 V.M.A v. Stolichna obshtina, rayon ‘Pancharevo’ EU:C:2021:1008
Case C-4/23 [Mirin] M.-A.A. v. Direcţia de Evidenţă a Persoanelor Cluj, Serviciul stare civilă and others EU:C:2024:845
Case C-713/23 Cupriak-Trojan and Trojan v Wojewoda Mazowiecki EU:C:2025:917
Case C-713/23 Cupriak-Trojan and Trojan v Wojewoda Mazowiecki EU:C:2025:235, Opinion of AG Richard de la Tour
European Court of Human Rights
Buhuceanu and Others v Romania (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 20081/19 and 20 others (23 May 2023)
Chapin and Charpentier v France (Judgment) ECtHR App No 40183/07 (9 June 2016)
Fedotova and Others v Russia (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 40792/10, 30538/14 and 43439/14 (17 January 2023)
Formela and Others v Poland (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 58828/12 and 4 others (19 September 2024)
Khamtokhu and Aksenchik v Russia (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 60367/08 and 961/11 (24 January 2017)
Koilova and Babulkova v Bulgaria (Judgment) ECtHR App No 40209/20 (5 September 2023)
L.L. v Slovakia (Communication) ECtHR App No. 13880/34 (08 April 2026)
Maymulakhin and Markiv v Ukraine (Judgment) ECtHR App No 75135/14 (1 June 2023)
Oliari and Others v Italy (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 18766/11 and 36030/11 (21 July 2015)
Przybyszewska and Others v Poland (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 11454/17 and 9 others (12 December 2023)
Schalk and Kopf v Austria (Judgment) ECtHR App No 30141/04 (24 June 2010)
Vallianatos and Others v Greece (Judgment) ECtHR App Nos 29381/09 and 32684/09 (7 November 2013)
National courts
Cupriak-Trojan and Trojan v. Wojewoda Mazowiecki (Judgement) Supreme Administrative Court (Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny), Poland Case No II OSK 216/21 (20 March 2026)
Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (Sąd Konstytucyjny Litwy), Case No KT21-N5/2025 (17 April 2025).
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