The Supreme Administrative Court agreed with lower courts Dec. 16 that foreign same-sex marriages can be recognized in Sweden only as registered partnerships.

The case targeted Sweden’s taxation authority for allegedly mislabeling the couple’s union.

The ruling, however, may have a limited lifespan. Sweden’s government favors granting same-sex couples full access to marriage, and a new law is expected to be in place by the middle of 2009.

Rex Wockner