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Summaries of EU Legislation

European Judicial Network — civil and commercial matters

 

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2001/470/EC establishing a European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters (EJN-civil)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS DECISION?

It establishes the European Judicial Network to improve legal cooperation in civil and commercial matters* between EU countries.

KEY POINTS

The EJN-civil is an informal, flexible structure, whose aim is to simplify and strengthen judicial cooperation between EU countries. It facilitates contacts between different national courts via a network of national contact points.

The main tasks of the EJN-civil are to:

  • facilitate judicial cooperation in cross-border cases e.g. providing assistance with the serving of documents or taking of evidence;
  • inform EU citizens on cross-border access to justice, mainly through factsheets and citizens’ guides on specific EU laws, published on the EU e-Justice portal;
  • assess and share experience on the application of EU law in order to identify weaknesses and explore ways of strengthening EU law.

The EJN-civil is composed of contact points and relevant bodies specialised in EU civil and commercial law from the EU countries, e.g.:

  • judicial or administrative bodies in EU countries responsible for judicial cooperation;
  • professional associations of lawyers directly involved in the application of EU civil and commercial law.

Denmark does not participate in the EJN-civil.

Regarding organisation, the EJN-civil carries out its activities through regular meetings of the contact points, mainly in Brussels. The secretariat of the EJN-civil is managed by the European Commission which liaises with the contact points on the work and priorities of the network.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 December 2002.

BACKGROUND

* KEY TERMS

Civil and commercial law: laws affecting citizens and business, excluding criminal law, family law, bankruptcy and inheritance law.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision 2001/470/EC of 28 May 2001 establishing a European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters (OJ L 174, 27.6.2001, pp. 25–31)

Successive amendments to Decision 2001/470/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.

last update 02.08.2016

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