Which EU Countries Recognise Unmarried Partnerships?

[GrimJam]

I (UK citizen) have been living in Macedonia with my girlfriend (Macedonian, non-EEA) for 2 years now, and long story short, it's time to head somewhere else. Since I have a job that I can easily transfer to an EU country, our choices are fairly open, but we were hoping for Italy.

I've read directive 2004/38/EC (Specifcally Chapter 3, article 2b and it seems that this particular relationship is up to the member state to define in each case. The UK clearly exercises their rights in this clause by stating it as a two-year relationship.

Does anyone know of how this is viewed in other countries around the EU?? Or more succinctly - Where can we go? Where can't we? Any help?

James

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Look through some of the UKBA documents in http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... -marriage/ and you will find partnerships that UKBA recognizes. Those EU member states likely offer what you want.

[GrimJam]

Great site - I've had a little look and I'm enjoying the piece-by-piece deconstruction of the directive with examples. I had a look at -

http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2008/04 ... ficiaries/

From this I can see that even though a member state may not have any legislation regarding registered partnerships or common-law marriage for its own citizens, at this stage you fall into the safety net of the 2b and are helped by the fact that the country is an EEA member...

So if the country's own policies aren't so favourable to you, you can show them that you satisfy under the directive and you're (ostensibly) covered?

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Basically yes. The devil is, of course, in the details.

Great site - I've had a little look and I'm enjoying the piece-by-piece deconstruction of the directive with examples.

Nice to hear it is useful. I find it useful for myself to pull the things apart.