Brussels Briefing

On 17 July 2006 the European Commission launched a public consultation Green Paper On conflict of laws in matters concerning matrimonial property regimes, including the question of jurisdiction and mutual recognition (COM (2006) 400 Final). The deadline for responses is the 30 November 2006.

A draft Regulation on jurisdiction and applicable law in divorce (Rome III) was also published on 17 July 2006 (COM (2006) 399 Final) and is presented as an amendment to Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) no 1347/2000 (2003) OJ L 338/1. The UK Government has a choice whether to be bound by this instrument or not and has until 17 October 2006 to take the decision. The European Commission has also published a communication Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (COM (2006) 367 Final) which outlines a comprehensive strategy for promoting and protecting children's rights.

Full information on all these matters, and more, is available in issue 3 of 2006 International Family Law.