In a press release summarizing the judgment, the court added: “Member States are therefore required to recognize, for the purpose of the exercise of the rights conferred by EU law, the marital status lawfully acquired in another Member State.”
Member countries “enjoy a margin of discretion to choose the procedures for recognizing such a marriage,” the court added.
The court stressed, however, that its ruling does not oblige countries to introduce same-sex marriage under their domestic laws.