Case C-335/17: Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 31 May 2018 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Varhoven kasatsionen sad (Bulgaria) — Bulgaria) — Neli Valcheva v Georgios Babanarakis (Reference for a preliminary ruling — Judicial cooperation in civil matters — Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 — Scope — Concept of ‘rights of access’ — Article 1(2)(a) and Article 2.7 and 2.10 — Rights of access of grandparents)

Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 31 May 2018 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Varhoven kasatsionen sad (Bulgaria) — Bulgaria) — Neli Valcheva v Georgios Babanarakis

(Case C-335/17) ( 1 )

‛(Reference for a preliminary ruling — Judicial cooperation in civil matters — Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 — Scope — Concept of ‘rights of access’ — Article 1(2)(a) and Article 2.7 and 2.10 — Rights of access of grandparents)’

Referring court

Varhoven kasatsionen sad (Bulgaria)

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Neli Valcheva

Respondent: Georgios Babanarakis

Operative part of the judgment

The concept of ‘rights of access’ referred to in Article 1(2)(a) and in Article 2.7 and 2.10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000, must be interpreted as including rights of access of grandparents to their grandchildren.

( 1 ) OJ C 269, 14.8.2017.