Regulation (EC) 44/2001 To Be Replaced By Regulation (EC) 1215/2012

On 12 December 2012, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EC) 1215/2012 ("Recast Regulation") which replaces Regulation (EC) 44/2001 ("Brussels I Regulation") on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and shall apply from 10^th January 2015.  The Brussels I Regulation provides a harmonised approach to determining which EU Member State court should have jurisdiction over a dispute and how judgments from courts in one EU Member State should be recognised and enforced in other EU Member States. Experience with the Brussels I Regulation has presented some shortcomings over the years. The purpose of the Recast Regulation was consequently to reformulate certain aspects of the existing law to better address contemporary needs, while retaining its principal objective of facilitating the free circulation of judgments and to further enhance access to justice.