Case C‑222/23

‘Toplofikatsia Sofia’ EAD

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sofiyski rayonen sad)

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 May 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 – Jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Order for payment procedure – Concept of ‘domicile’ – National of a Member State having his or her permanent address in that Member State and his or her current address in another Member State – No possibility of changing or renouncing that permanent address)

1. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Regulation No 1215/2012 – Scope – Existence of an international element – Order for payment procedure brought against a debtor residing in another Member State but not yet a party to the main proceedings – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1215/2012)

   (see paragraph 46)

2. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Regulation No 1215/2012 – General provisions – Determination of a party’s domicile under national law – Limits – National legislation according to which nationals of a Member State residing in another Member State are considered to be domiciled at an address still registered in the first Member State – Not permissible

   (Convention of 27 September 1968; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1215/2012, Arts 4(1) and 62(1); Council Regulation No 44/2001)

   (see paragraphs 51-56, 60, 62, operative part 1)

3. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Regulation No 1215/2012 – Determining whether a court of a Member State has international jurisdiction – Debtor domiciled, on the date on which the application for an order for payment was lodged, in the territory of a Member State other than that of the court seised –National legislation conferring jurisdiction on that court in situations other than those provided for in Sections 2 to 7 of Chapter II of Regulation No 1215/2012 – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1215/2012, Arts 4(1), 5(2) and Chapter II, Section 2 to 7)

   (see paragraphs 68-72, operative part 2)

4. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Service of judicial and extrajudicial documents – Assistance in determining addresses – Scope

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2020/1784, Arts 1(2) and 7)

   (see paragraphs 75-79, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.