From 2019, same-sex couples in Austria will enjoy equal marriage rights with heterosexuals, after the Constitutional Court examined a 2009 law following a complaint from two women who were refused permission to enter a formal marriage by authorities in Vienna. According to the ruling, restrictions on same-sex marriage will be lifted at the end of 2018 unless the government does so itself earlier. Gay couples have been allowed to live in civil partnerships since 2010. With this step, Austria gets into line with many other European nations, including Germany, France, Britain and Spain.