Case C‑21/22

OP

v

Notariusz Justyna Gawlica

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Okręgowy w Opolu)

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 12 October 2023

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in civil matters – National law applicable in matters of succession – Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 – Article 22 – Choice-of-law clause – Scope ratione personae – Third-country national – Article 75 – Relationship with existing international conventions – Bilateral agreement between the Republic of Poland and Ukraine)

1. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions, acceptance and enforcement of authentic instruments in matters of succession, and creation of a European Certificate of Succession – Regulation No 650/2012 – Applicable law – Choice of law applicable to the succession – Scope – Choice of the law of a third State – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 650/2012, recitals 38 and 57 and Arts 5, 6, 20 and 22)

   (see paragraphs 17-24, operative part 1)

2. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions, acceptance and enforcement of authentic instruments in matters of succession, and creation of a European Certificate of Succession – Regulation No 650/2012 – Relationship with conventions on matters governed by the regulation – Regulation not applicable – Limits – Observance of the principles underlying the regulation – Bilateral agreement with a third State not providing for the possibility of choosing the law applicable to the succession – Applicability

   (Art. 351, first para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 650/2012, recitals 7, 37 and 59 and Arts 12(1), 21, 22 and 75(1))

   (see paragraphs 26-38, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.