ROME, Italy — Italy’s highest appeals court on Monday rejected same-sex marriage, saying there was nothing in the Constitution that requires the government to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.

ANSA reports that the Cassation Court did add that gays have the right to a “protective” law that would ensure same-sex couples have the same rights as unmarried Italian couples.

Neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions between same-sex partners are legally recognized in Italy but some cities, including Rome, have a civil union register.

Late last month, Rome city council also passed an amendment saying that same-sex marriages contracted abroad are to be automatically transcribed into the newly created civil union register.