European CommissionEuropean Commission
Open issues for a European area of civil justiceOpen issues for a European area of civil justice
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
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justice
Open issues in the creation Open issues in the creation
of a European area of civil justiceof a European area of civil justice
Karen Vandekerckhove
Kranjska Gora, 16 November 2007
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
Overview
A. Milestones on the way to a European area of justice
B. The agenda for the next few years (and beyond)
C. Ongoing and future projects
D. Particular questions for the future
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The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
A. Milestones on the way to a European area of justice
• 1993 Maastricht Treaty
• 1998 Amsterdam Treaty
• 1999 Tampere Programme
• 2000 Programme on Mutual Recognition
• 2004 Hague Programme
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
B. The agenda for the next years
I. Hague Programme for strengthening freedom, security and justice in the European Union, 2004:
The main challenges for the future of Civil Justice:
• Completing the Programme of Mutual Recognition
• Implementing the acquis communautaire
• Enhancing cooperation in the area of civil justice
• Ensuring coherence with international legal order
II. Action Plan implementing the Hague Programme, 2005→ EU work programme until 2010.
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
C. Ongoing and future projects
I. Completing the Programme of Mutual Recognition
1. Private international law
● Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement
▪ Review of Brussels I Regulation
● Applicable Law
▪ Rome I – Law applicable to contractual obligations
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
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justice
● Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement and applicable law
▪ Maintenance obligations
▪ Rome III – applicable law and jurisdiction for divorce
▪ Wills and successions
▪ Matrimonial property regimes
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
2. European civil procedure
● Certain aspects of mediation
● Review of service of documents Regulation
● Review of taking of evidence Regulation
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
• Enforcement
▪ Attachment of bank accounts
▪ Provisional and protective measures
▪ Transparency of the debtor’s assets
• Minimum standards of civil proceduree.g. service of documents, commencement of proceedings, transparency of costs
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
3. New area: e-justice
• European portal on justice• Electronic access to court• Interconnexion of national networks
4. Other ongoing studies
• Civil status• Legalisation• Adoption
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
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m, securit
yand
justice
II. Enhancing cooperation
● Strengthening the European Judicial Network in civil and
commercial matters
● Promoting knowledge of the acquis communautaire in civil justice
● Promoting cooperation between members of the legal professions
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
area of freedo
m, securit
yand
justice
III. International Legal Order
● Hague Conference
▪ Choice of court agreements▪ Maintenance obligations
● Council of Europe
▪ European Day of Civil Justice▪ Biannual Conference
● Lugano Convention
● Others
European CommissionEuropean Commission
The Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil MattersThe Future of Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
Directorate-General Directorate-General Freedom, Security and Freedom, Security and JusticeJustice
Living in an
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yand
justice
D. Particular questions for the future
I. ImplementationII. Impact of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU
• Genuine political objective
• “Matters having cross-border implications”
• The « passerelle » in family law
• Power of the ECJ
• Protocols on the position of UK/IE/DK
III. External Community competenceECJ opinion 1/03
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