Different treatment of married and unmarried couples in the European Union

This book chapter analyses the different treatment of married and unmarried couples in the EU from the perspective of the application of fundamental rights to private law matters - the 'horizontal effect of fundamental rights' debate. This theme is usually discussed exclusively within the context of public or private law, so this work constitutes an original contribution to the debate on the subject-matter. The chapter compares relevant statutory instruments and case-law from nine jurisdictions, and concludes with policy recommendations.