Today the Hague Judgments Convention enters into force. An important international treaty where countries agree to recognise and enforce judgments from each other’s courts in civil and commercial matters. https://t.co/EBo5cLv3G8 pic.twitter.com/itu0TMlVqZ
— EU Justice (@EU_Justice) September 1, 2023
Source: Twitter
The Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters was concluded on 2 July 2019, but is not in force. The Convention requires two ratifications or accessions for it to enter into force; following the EU’s accession to the Convention on 29 August 2022 and Ukraine’s ratification of the Convention on the same date, it will enter into force as between the EU (except Denmark) and Ukraine on 1 September 2023 (provided that neither gives a notice under Article 29(2)).
It is designed to provide a single global framework for the free circulation and enforcement of judgments on civil or commercial matters across jurisdictions. Its aim is to reduce transactional and litigation costs in cross-border matters and to promote international access to justice. Contracting states will be bound to recognise and enforce judgments from other contracting states, subject to certain defences relating to public policy, fraud, insufficient notice and other matters.
States may become a party to the Hague Judgments Convention either by (1) signature followed by ratification, acceptance or approval, or (2) by accession. For an updated list of signatories and ratifying states, see the status table on the HCCH website.
The Explanatory Report on the Hague Judgments Convention was published by the HCCH on 29 October 2020. It is non-binding, but is intended to be an authoritative resource on the implementation, operation and interpretation of the Convention.
For further information, see: