lighted bridge over water at night time

European Union accedes to the convention on the enforcement of foreign judgments

September 15, 2022

European Parliament gave its consent to the accession of the European Union to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (the "Convention"). The Convention aims to establish a common framework for the global circulation of judgments in civil or commercial matters.

Accepted on June 23, 2022 by the European Parliament and targeted to enter into force as of September 1, 2023, the Convention is now binding for The European Union states as a result of this recent accession by the European Union. Ukraine has signed and ratified the Convention and accordingly it will also enter into force on 01.09.2023 for Ukraine. Costa Rica, Israel, Russian Federation, United States of America and Uruguay have also signed the Convention.

Turkey has not yet signed the Convention.

In the Explanatory Statement, the European Parliament describes the Convention as an instrument of outmost importance for European citizens and businesses.  The importance of the European Parliament's decision is that the expanded signing of the Convention by a large number of countries will act as an enabler in the enforcement of foreign court decisions.