This book deals with the interconnection between the Brussels I Recast and Rome I Regulations and addresses the question of uniform interpretation. A consistent understanding of scope and provisions is suggested by the preamble of the Rome I Regulation. Without doubt, it is fair to presume that the same terms bear the same meaning throughout the Regulations. The author takes a closer look at the Regulations’ systems, guiding principles, and their balance of flexibility and legal certainty. He starts from the premise that such analysis should prove particularly rewarding as both legal acts have their specific DNA: The Brussels I Recast Regulation has a procedural focus when it governs the allocation of jurisdiction and the free circulation of judgments. The multilateral rules under the Rome I Regulation, by contrast, are animated by conflict of laws methods and focus on the delimitation of legal systems. This fourth volume in the Short Studies in Private International Law Series is primarily aimed at legal academics in private international law and advanced students. But it should also prove an intriguing read for legal practitioners in international litigation. Christoph Schmon is a legal expert in the fields of Private International Law, Consumer Law, and Digital Rights. After serving in research positions at academic institutes in Vienna and London, he focused on EU policy and law making. He is appointed expert of advisory groups to the EU Commission.

The law applicable to contractual and non-contractual obligations in cross-border civil and commercial matters in the European Union (EU) is the remit of the so-called Rome I and II Regulations that entered into force in 2009, supplemented by the Rome III Regulation of 2012 dealing specifically with divorce and legal separation. This article-by-article commentary – now updated to its third edition – has become a cornerstone resource in handling European cases involving conflict of laws. The occasion for publishing a third edition is that several landmark judgments on the conflict of laws have been recently rendered both by the Court of Justice of the EU and by domestic courts. Moreover, with Brexit, one of the largest European states will enter into a new form of relationship with the EU, which will specifically impact the conflict of laws. The effects of these major developments are reflected throughout the new edition’s extensively revised article-by-article commentary. The commentary, authored by leading scholars of conflict of laws and drawing on a wide spectrum of case law and scholarship, highlights, among much else, such long-term implications of the Rome Regulations as the following: principles of interpretation; limiting the effects of forum shopping; limiting the trade-restricting effects of the fragmentation of national private laws; ensuring the free movement of persons; enhancement of legal certainty and predictability; and potential solutions for an agreement-based Brexit. It provides black letter law as represented by the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU and the Member State courts, as well as the latest academic opinion. In the current era of globalization, where communication, transaction, and migration across borders have transformed from exceptional to omnipresent phenomena, the pressing question is no longer if the state has to grant access to justice in international situations but how that right can be implemented effectively. To this end, renowned conflict of laws scholars analyse every provision of the Regulations in a systematic and thorough manner, making them accessible to a broad international legal audience. The result is an indispensable companion for academics, judges, lawyers, and legal professionals in their day-to-day work.

The Brussels I Regulation has undergone a lengthy review process, resulting in Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, of 12 December 2012, on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters (recast), the provisions of which apply from 10 January 2015. This work, written by a number of leading experts, provides a a concise article-by-article commentary on all the recast Regulation's provisions with reference to the existing case law of the European Court of Justice and leading national decisions. It also offers additional focus on the newly introduced changes, in particular to the provisions on lis pendens and the recognition and enforcement of judgements.

This book examines the diversity of enforcement titles in cross-border debt collection, focusing on the types, structure, contents and effects of enforcement titles. It offers a comprehensive overview of judgments, court settlements and authentic instruments from a variety of EU Member States. It primarily employs the comparative legal method to draw conclusions on commonalities and differences, as well as prospects for future approximation of laws. The premise of the research is rooted in the finding that national authorities of EU Member States continue to treat enforcement titles from other Member States with reservations and mistrust despite being committed to the principle of mutual trust. The book identifies the issues of mistrust stemming from the diversity of enforcement titles. The research is based on a rich database of national reports compiled during the course of several large-scale EU Justice Projects. Divided into five parts, the book offers first some general considerations and presents attempts at a systemisation of enforcement titles. The following parts are then devoted to more specialised approaches toward the different types of enforcement titles. However, the connecting line between all parts of the book are the considerations of cross-border enforcement in the EU (and in a limited manner with third States). Herein, research also addresses critical factors regarding the free movement of judgments in the EU, including those of lis pendens and related actions. This book provides a valuable contribution to the Theory of European Civil Procedure. Since it is based on a comparative approach and employs both empirical and doctrinal viewpoints, it should also greatly benefit practitioners involved in cross-border dispute resolution. Overall, the findings should be of interest to a broad audience, including policymakers, judges, practitioners and scholars.

The Brussels I-bis Regulation remains the most significant legal instrument for procedural law in the EU, providing the cornerstone for questions of international jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. This authoritative book provides a thorough and practical analysis of the Regulation, with particular focus on its interpretation and application.

Blockchains and smart contracts are emerging technologies that pose unique challenges for legal systems. This book outlines the extent to which these new and innovative technologies could have potentially disruptive effects on contract law in Europe. It does so through a comparative, three-part analysis of the recognisability and effects of smart contracts in European legal systems. First of all, in light of the technologies’ transboundary nature, the book employs a comparative approach, considering French law, German law, English law, and Dutch law to analyse the impact on the different systems of contract law. While doing so, it also addresses the formation, interpretation, and vitiation of contracts. Secondly, it analyses the impact of these technologies on European laws regarding unfair terms in consumer contracts and argues that the existing rules should be applied to smart legal agreements in business-to-consumer relations. Lastly, it analyses the current European rules of private international law on the basis of which jurisdiction and applicable law are developed. In this respect, the book concludes that the vast majority of these European rules are “smart contract-proof”.

1: Andrew Dickinson: Background and Introduction to the Regulation 2: Martin Illmer, Arnaud Nuyts, Jonathan Fitchen: Scope and Definitions (Art. 1 - 3) 3: Helene van Lith: Jurisdiction - General Provisions (Art. 4-6) 4: Matthias Lehmann, Eva Lein, Pippa Rogerson, Marie Elodie Ancel: Special Jurisdiction (Art. 7-9) 5: Stefania Bariatti: Jurisdiction in Matters Relating to Insurance (Arts. 10-16) 6: Andrea Bonomi: Jurisdiction over Consumer Contracts (Arts. 17-19) 7: Louise Merrett: Jurisdiction over Individual Contracts of Employment (Arts. 20-23) 8: Matthias Lehmann: Exclusive Jurisdiction (Art. 24) 9: Paco Garcimartin: Prorogation of Jurisdiction - Choice of Court Agreements and Submission (Arts. 25-26) 10: Xandra Kramer: Examination as to Jurisdiction and Admissibility (Arts. 27-28) 11: Pippa Rogerson, Paco Garcimartin, Matthias Lehmann: Lis Pendens and Related Actions (Arts. 29-34) 12: Arnaud Nuyts: Provisional, Including Protective Measures (Art. 35) 13: Pietro Franzina, Xandra Kramer, Jonathan Fitchen: The Recognition and Enforcement of Member State Jud gements (Arts. 36-57) 14: Jonathan Fitchen, Xandra Kramer: Authentic Instruments and Court Settlements (Arts. 58-60) 15: Martin George, Jonathan Fitchen, Marie-Elodie Ancel: General Provisions (Arts. 61-65) 16: Andrew Dickinson: Transitional Provisions (Art. 66) 17: Pippa Rogerson, Andrea Bonomi, Martin Illmer: Relationship with other Instruments (Arts. 67-73) 18: Andrew Dickinson: Final Provisions (Arts. 74-81) Appendix 1. The Regulation: English, French and German language versions. Appendix 2. Comparison of 2001 Regulation and Recast Regulation Appendix 3. Commission Proposal (Annexes omitted) Appendix 4. Explanatory Statement within the Final Report of the EP Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee Appendix 5. Information Published by the Commission Pursuant to Art 76.