Slovakia refuses to recognize same-sex marriage, defying EU court ruling

The Ministry of Interior of Slovakia has refused to recognize the same-sex marriage of a couple concluded in Austria. This was announced on August 10 by one of the spouses, Ivan Novotný. The decision was personally signed by the Minister of Interior, Matúš Šutaj Eštok.

Slovak citizens Ivan Novotný and Metod Špaček got married in Austria in 2020 and applied to register their marriage in their home country at the end of 2025. According to Novotný, instead of a standard response from the special registry office, they received a rejection letter from the head of the Ministry of Interior. The letter justifies the decision by citing the country’s Constitution, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The couple alleges that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico intervened in the process, reportedly instructing the registry office in June not to register this marriage.

The couple intends to appeal the decision in the Administrative Court in the capital, Bratislava. In late July, Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka had already issued a warning to the Ministry of Interior regarding delays in processing such applications.

The European Commission reacted to the situation by reminding that EU law and decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) take precedence over national legislation. According to a ruling by the CJEU in November 2025 , member states are required to recognize same-sex unions legally concluded in other EU countries to ensure freedom of movement. The Commission promised to monitor the situation closely.