Mutual recognition of judicial decisions throughout the European Union (EU) is the cornerstone of effective cooperation in both civil and criminal matters. In November 2000, the EU Council of
Ministers adopted a Programme of measures to implement this principle in the realm of civil and commercial matters. On the mutual recognition of judicial decisions in civil matters, five Council regulations with regard to civil and commercial cases (Brussels I) and family matters (Brussels II) have been adopted so far, also by Estonia. However, the implementation of these regulations within the EU often encounters certain obstacles. Moreover, the mutual recognition of judicial decisions between EU-members and non-EU-members – as e.g. Switzerland – is an open issue.

The goal of the Conference is to introduce and analyze practical problems with regard to the mutual recognition of judicial decisions in civil matters. The Conference will increase the professionalism of participants, strengthen contacts between colleagues and, above all, mediate the Swiss, Ukrainian and Russian practice to the EU member states.

Judges and further persons with a legal profession, participating in the Conference; authorities of the EU member states, Switzerland, Ukraine and Russia, benefiting from the results of the Conference.

Between 8 and 10 September 2010, in Tartu there will be held a Judges Conference, organised by the Estonian Association of Judges. The preparations and follow-up-activities will last from May till October 2010. After the Conference, multilingual compendiums, based on the presentations given by the lecturers, will be compiled and distributed among the participating states as well as among all non-participating EU member states.

Achieved results:  

•  The judge’s conference took place from 8 - 10 September 2010 in Tartu, Estonia. Ten countries presented their legal system to participants from 12 countries.
• EU countries improved their contacts with Switzerland, Ukraine and Russia.
• After the Conference, about 400 multilingual compendiums (in Estonian, English, Russian, German), based on the presentations given by the lecturers, were compiled and distributed among 11 countries.

Phase 1 15.05.2010 - 31.12.2010   (Completed)