Case C‑250/17

Virgílio Tarragó da Silveira

v

Massa Insolvente da Espírito Santo Financial Group SA

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Supremo Tribunal de Justiça)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling — Judicial cooperation in civil matters — Insolvency proceedings — Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 — Article 15 — Effects of insolvency proceedings on lawsuits pending concerning an asset or a right of which the debtor has been divested — Concept of ‘lawsuit pending’ — Substantive proceedings for the recognition of the existence of a debt)

Summary — Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 6 June 2018

1. Judicial cooperation in civil matters—Insolvency proceedings—Regulation No 1346/2000—Effects of insolvency proceedings on lawsuits pending—Concept of lawsuits pending—Enforcement proceedings—Not included

   (Council Regulation No 1346/2000, Art. 15)

2. Judicial cooperation in civil matters—Insolvency proceedings—Regulation No 1346/2000—Effects of insolvency proceedings on lawsuits pending—Concept of lawsuits pending—Substantive proceedings for the recognition of the existence of a debt—Included

   (Council Regulation No 1346/2000, Art. 15)

1.  See the text of the decision.

   (see paras 30-32)

2.  Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings must be interpreted as applying to a lawsuit pending before a court of a Member State seeking an order that a debtor pay a sum of money due under a contract for the provision of services and pay monetary damages for failure to comply with that contractual obligation, in the event that (i) the debtor was declared insolvent in insolvency proceedings opened in another Member State; and (ii) the declaration of insolvency applies to all of the debtor’s assets.

   (see para. 35, operative part)