Accession of Montenegro to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

Question for oral answer O-000002/2026

to the Commission

Rule 142

Ilhan Kyuchyuk on behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs

Subject: Accession of Montenegro to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

On 21 February 2025, Montenegro deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 2 July2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (the Judgments Convention). The Convention, which has already been ratified or acceded to by several third countries, will enter into force for Montenegro on 1 March 2026, as communicated by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

In accordance with Article 29(2) of the Judgments Convention, the EU may notify the depositary, within the time limits foreseen by the Convention, which is 21 February 2026, that Montenegro’s ratification does not have the effect of establishing treaty relations between the EU and Montenegro. If no such notification is issued, that is, if the EU tacitly accepts Montenegro’s accession, the Convention will begin to apply between the EU and Montenegro as from the date of its entry into force for Montenegro.

Parliament understands that the Commission’s initial assessment of Montenegro’s accession is positive and that the Commission would be in favour of tacitly accepting it. However, the significance of private international law rules for EU citizens in this area has both political and legal implications, not only for judicial cooperation but also in the broader context of EU–Western Balkans relations and Montenegro’s status as an EU candidate country.

With respect for each institution’s prerogatives and Parliament’s consistent position1 regarding third countries’ accessions to the Judgments Convention, a statement by Parliament would enable the Commission to tacitly accept Montenegro’s accession to the Convention on the EU’s behalf under the relevant provisions of the Convention.

1. Given the timelines laid down in the Judgments Convention, the need for the EU institutions to act without delay to ascertain the EU’s acceptance of Montenegro’s accession, and Parliament’s intention to make an appropriate statement in this regard, can the Commission confirm its assessment of Montenegro’s accession to the Convention?

2. Having regard to the commitments made by the Commission concerning third countries’ accession to international conventions and the respect of Article 218(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, what concrete steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure that third countries’ accession to the Judgments Convention are always fully and formally respected under the Treaties with respect for each EU institution’s prerogatives?

Submitted: 21.1.2026

Lapses: 22.4.2026