Avskaffande av exekvaturförfarandet
En studie av kommissionens förslag till en reviderad Bryssel I-förordning
In order for a judgement to be enforceable in another Member State, there is a certain requirement for an "intermediate? court procedure, a so-called exequatur procedure. An exequatur procedure is both expensive and time-consuming. The average cost of the procedure within the EU is 2 200 euro in a case without particular difficulties. In more complex cases, the cost of the procedure can be validated up to 12 700 euro. It can take only a few days but also several months before the exequatur is completed, if one party appeals the process can last to three years.The exequatur is considered to be expensive and time-consuming in relation to the EU free movement of judgments. It can discourage companies and individuals from doing business across the EU borders. Therefore, the Commission presented a proposal for a revised Brussels I Regulation. The proposal means that the exequatur for the recognition and enforcement of judgments is to be abolished, except for judgments in cases of vilification or, indemnity regarding several defendants. The exequatur procedure is replaced with a standard form issued by the original court. These forms are supposed to act as an enforcement order to be submitted to the executive authority of the State.The abolition of the exequatur results in a procedural safeguard that makes it possible for the defendant, in certain exceptional circumstances, to prevent a Court from recognizing or enforcing a judgment in another Member State. The author does not consider these safeguards to be sufficient in order to achieve legal protection for the defendant. The Commission should evaluate the effect of the regulations where the exequatur already has been abolished before removing it from the Brussels I Regulation.