Gay couples gain
cross-border rights across European Union

New residency regulations that went into effect throughout the European Union Tuesday allow same-sex couples to live anywhere in the region and to have their relationships "facilitated" even in countries that do not have same-sex partner laws. Only five of the EU's 25 member countries have ratified the new requirements, but European justice commissioner Franco Frattini reminded national governments that the law is "immediately applicable," whether or not it is ratified. While only the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain allow same-sex couples to marry, Britain, Germany, and several other western European countries allow varying forms of civil partnerships. Other states have limited partner rights, but some central and eastern European countries offer nothing to same-sex couples--it was to those nations that Frattini's warning was issued. He said couples denied their rights can demand enforcement in national or EU courts or ask the European commission to take up their case. (Sirius OutQ News)