With its ruling, the court left in tact the first-instance court's verdict and arguments. The case was brought by an American-Hungarian lesbian couple after the Budapest City Hall refused to recognise their marriage from Belgium.

According to the arguments of the first-instance court, refusal to recognise the registered partnership would violate the applicants' basic rights under Hungarian law, which entitles people to a legally sanctioned lasting partnership. The affirming decision of the Budapest District Court means that the official position of the Ministry of Justice agains the registration has no legal standing.

Rights must transcend borders

Hungarian law has recognised legal partnership status since 2009. It gives similar rights to those of a married couple. The decision by the Budapest court is an important victory in the recognition of the rights of same-sex couples living in Hungary.

Dutch liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld said about the court’s ruling: "I’m delighted to see that yet another EU member state takes steps in the right direction to remove unnecessary hurdles that impede the everyday life of same-sex couples. Members of the LGBTI community should enjoy the same rights all across the EU, transcending borders; putting them in different boxes would be a sheer sign of discrimination."