What changed

Follow up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on supporting the United Kingdom accession to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

B100273/2025

Resolution tabled pursuant to Rule 142 (1) of the European Parliament's Rules of procedure

European Parliament resolution on supporting the United Kingdom accession to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

References: 2025/2709(RSP) / B10-0273/2025 / P10_TA(2025)0138

(2025/2709(RSP))

Date of adoption of the resolution: 19 June 2025

– having regard to Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)

– having regard to Articles 24 and 29 of the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (‘Judgments Convention’),

Brief analysis/ assessment of the resolution and requests made in it:

– having regard to the question to the Commission on the United Kingdom’s application to accede to the Lugano Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (O-000022/2021),

In its resolution, the Parliament welcomes the positive assessment made by the Commission with the aim of establishing treaty relations with the United Kingdom in the framework of the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (the “Judgments Convention”) and expresses support for the accession of the United Kingdom to the Judgments Convention.

– having regard to the question to the Commission on the non-objection mechanisms in international conventions to which the European Union is a party (O-000042/2023),

At the same time, the Parliament also reiterates its view that the procedure set out in Article 218(6) TFEU should be followed in matters concerning the establishment of the EU position regarding accession by third states to the Hague Conference Conventions (paragraph 3 of the resolution).

– having regard to the question to the Commission concerning the United Kingdom’s accession to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial MattersO-000016/2025,

Response to the requests in the resolution and overview of the action taken, or intended to be taken, by the Commission:

– having regard to Rules 142(5) and 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

With regard to the position expressed by the Parliament in paragraph 3 of its resolution, the Commission consistently took the view that, since the Judgments Convention is based on the principle of the acceptance of accessions by other Contracting Parties and only envisages an “objection procedure” in exceptional cases, and since the Parliament has been fully involved in and given its consent to the EU’s accession to the Judgments Convention establishing this “objection procedure”, formal decisions under Article 218 TFEU are required only where it is proposed that the EU object to the establishment of such treaty relations, in line with the Commission’s obligation to implement the EU’s obligations under international law in good faith.

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Legal Affairs,

At the same time, it is important and necessary to consult the Parliament and to take its views into account, in full compliance with the Treaties and the duty of sincere cooperation. This is why the Commission is committed to consistently inform the European Parliament of each intended accession of a third country to the Judgments Convention and to take full account of the views expressed when deciding whether to propose an objection decision. The Commission is ready to look further into ways of optimizing inter-institutional cooperation in the context of non-objection procedures.

A. whereas the statutory purpose of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (‘Hague Conference’) is to work for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law;

B. whereas the European Union became a party to the Hague Conference on 3 April 2007;

C. whereas the Judgments Convention facilitates the effective international circulation of judgments in civil or commercial matters by providing legal certainty and predictability to parties involved in cross-border transactions and clarity as to whether and to what extent a judgment will be recognised and enforced in another jurisdiction; whereas by ensuring the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, the Judgments Convention should enhance access to justice by reducing legal time frames, costs and risks in cross-border circumstances;

D. whereas pursuant to Article 24 of the Judgments Convention, any non-EU state can accede to the Convention; whereas such accession creates treaty relations between two contracting parties only if neither of them has notified the depositary that the accession must not have the effect of establishing treaty relations with the other; whereas such a notification must be submitted within a period of 12 months after the date on which the accession was notified;

E. whereas under the current practice, the Commission does not initiate a formal procedure in accordance with Article 218(6) TFEU for the conventions that contain a non-objection mechanism, but only informs the Council and Parliament of any third country’s request to accede to a given Hague instrument;

F. whereas, according to well-established case-law, an international agreement cannot affect the allocation of powers fixed by the Treaties, thus when at international level a silence procedure has been adopted to facilitate accession by third states should be of no consequence for the EU’s internal decision-making process;

G. whereas the European Union acceded to the Judgments Convention on 29 August 2022;

H. whereas the United Kingdom deposited its instrument of ratification to the Judgments Convention on 27 June 2024;

I. whereas if the Union accepts the United Kingdom’s accession to the Judgments Convention, it will enter into force on 1 July 2025 and be applicable between the two parties;

1. Welcomes the positive assessments made by the Commission with the aim of establishing treaty relations with the United Kingdom in the framework of the Judgments Convention;

2. Supports the accession of the United Kingdom to the Judgments Convention;

3. Reiterates that this resolution is without prejudice to the procedure set out in Article 218(6) TFEU, which should be followed in matters concerning the establishment of the EU position regarding accession by third states to the Hague Conference Conventions;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.