European Union

On 9 June 2016, 18 member states reached a general approach on two regulations aimed at determining the rules applicable to property regimes for married couples or registered partners in cross-border situations (i.e. couples of different EU nationalities and/or who own properties in a another EU member state).

The regulations aim to determine which court will have jurisdiction and which law will be applicable in matters of matrimonial property regimes and the property consequences of registered partnerships. They will also facilitate the recognition and enforcement of decisions in cross-border situations on these matters. They will establish clear rules on applicable law in case of divorce or death, bringing greater legal certainty and putting an end to parallel and possibly conflicting proceedings in various member states.

The eighteen member states participating in the enhanced cooperation are Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden. Other member states are free to join at any time after its adoption. In this respect, Estonia announced its intention to take part in the cooperation after its adoption. 

Dutch minister Van der Steur, on behalf of the Netherlands presidency, said : "The Netherlands Presidency is very pleased that the Council has made a lot of progress, very swiftly,  to overcome the deadlock in this file, by means of enhanced cooperation. Already 18 member states are on board. The Commission, European Parliament and Council have been working hard on this file during this semester and we hope that, after the adoption of the proposals, other member states will join the enhanced cooperation as well."

The regulations leave untouched the underlying institutions of marriages and partnerships, which remain matters that are defined by the national laws of the member states. They also include a series of safeguards in order to respect national legal systems. For example, nothing obliges participating member states whose law does not recognise the institution of registered partnership to provide for it, nor to assume jurisdiction for such partnerships.

The Council also adopted today, without discussion, the decision authorising the enhanced cooperation itself. In accordance with the rules on enhanced cooperation, all Member States took part in that vote.

The enhanced cooperation was proposed after the Council concluded, at its meeting of 3 December 2015, that it would not be possible, within a reasonable period of time, to reach an EU-wide unanimous agreement on the original Commission proposals on these matters presented in 2011.

Next steps

Following the adoption of this general approach, the European Parliament will give its opinion on the texts in the course of the month. Consequently, the regulations will be formally adopted by the 18 participating member states. This formal adoption is expected at the end of June 2016.

Background

In 2011, the European Commission estimated that there are about 16 million couples in the European Union who live in a cross border situation.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A plan to lend Tunisia €500 million on favourable terms to help it reduce its external debt and consolidate its democratic mechanisms was backed by MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : A plan to lend Tunisia €500 million on favourable terms to help it reduce its external debt and consolidate its democratic mechanisms was backed by MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The cure to the EU's ills is more solidarity, more rule of law, more synergies and more integration, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev told MEPs on 8 June. "Integration is the only weapon we have to achieve peace, security and human development," he said in plenary, adding: "Erecting borders is a tempting, yet temporary and not sustainable solution." The President also condemned what he called Russia's efforts to destabilise the EU and erode trust in the European project.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The cure to the EU's ills is more solidarity, more rule of law, more synergies and more integration, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev told MEPs on 8 June. "Integration is the only weapon we have to achieve peace, security and human development," he said in plenary, adding: "Erecting borders is a tempting, yet temporary and not sustainable solution." The President also condemned what he called Russia's efforts to destabilise the EU and erode trust in the European project.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission should withdraw its authorisations for the use of herbicide-resistant GM carnations and maize, say two non-binding resolutions voted on Wednesday. Authorising GM carnations would encourage the worldwide use of a diabetes medicine as a herbicide, while the GM maize is resistant to glyphosate, which is classified as “probably carcinogenic” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), MEPs say.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission should withdraw its authorisations for the use of herbicide-resistant GM carnations and maize, say two non-binding resolutions voted on Wednesday. Authorising GM carnations would encourage the worldwide use of a diabetes medicine as a herbicide, while the GM maize is resistant to glyphosate, which is classified as “probably carcinogenic” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), MEPs say.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament voiced serious concerns on Wednesday at the "apathy shown by member states and EU institutions" about recognising "the multiple fundamental rights violations and torture" that took place in US CIA “rendition” operations on European soil between 2001 and 2006. Its non-binding resolution urges them to investigate these violations and to bring those responsible for or complicit in them to justice.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Parliament voiced serious concerns on Wednesday at the "apathy shown by member states and EU institutions" about recognising "the multiple fundamental rights violations and torture" that took place in US CIA “rendition” operations on European soil between 2001 and 2006. Its non-binding resolution urges them to investigate these violations and to bring those responsible for or complicit in them to justice.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : European Commission delays in publishing the scientific criteria needed to identify and reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, which the UNEP/WHO sees as a global threat to public health, were condemned by Parliament in in a resolution voted on Wednesday. The text, on “endocrine disruptors”, points out that the Commission’s persistent failure to publish the criteria, which were due by the end of 2013, also breaches EU law.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : European Commission delays in publishing the scientific criteria needed to identify and reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, which the UNEP/WHO sees as a global threat to public health, were condemned by Parliament in in a resolution voted on Wednesday. The text, on “endocrine disruptors”, points out that the Commission’s persistent failure to publish the criteria, which were due by the end of 2013, also breaches EU law.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Venezuela’s government should release all political prisoners immediately and respect the constitution, including the procedures that may lead to the impeachment of the country´s President, urged the European Parliament on Wednesday. In a resolution passed by 501 votes, to 94 against with 73 abstentions, MEPs backed mediation efforts by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to launch a national dialogue between Venezuela’s government and opposition.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : Venezuela’s government should release all political prisoners immediately and respect the constitution, including the procedures that may lead to the impeachment of the country´s President, urged the European Parliament on Wednesday. In a resolution passed by 501 votes, to 94 against with 73 abstentions, MEPs backed mediation efforts by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to launch a national dialogue between Venezuela’s government and opposition.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission proposal for an EU anti-tax avoidance directive was welcomed by Parliament in a resolution voted on Wednesday. MEPs nonetheless advocated stricter limits on deductions for interest payments and tougher rules on foreign income. They also called for more transparency for trust funds and foundations, common rules for “patent box” tax reductions on intellectual property earnings, and an EU blacklist of tax havens and sanctions against uncooperative jurisdictions.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU Commission proposal for an EU anti-tax avoidance directive was welcomed by Parliament in a resolution voted on Wednesday. MEPs nonetheless advocated stricter limits on deductions for interest payments and tougher rules on foreign income. They also called for more transparency for trust funds and foundations, common rules for “patent box” tax reductions on intellectual property earnings, and an EU blacklist of tax havens and sanctions against uncooperative jurisdictions.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : A WTO deal struck by the EU and 24 countries, including Japan, China, and the USA, to stop charging custom duties on trade in 201 different high-demand information technology products, such as video game consoles, medical imaging machines and touch screens, was backed by MEPs on Wednesday. The EU has signed the deal, but now has Parliament’s green light for it to enter into force.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Plenary sessions : A WTO deal struck by the EU and 24 countries, including Japan, China, and the USA, to stop charging custom duties on trade in 201 different high-demand information technology products, such as video game consoles, medical imaging machines and touch screens, was backed by MEPs on Wednesday. The EU has signed the deal, but now has Parliament’s green light for it to enter into force.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP