Vitorino says Rome II ‘still on course’

Date: 28/02/02

By Peter Chapman

JUSTICE Commissioner António Vitorino says reports of the death of the controversial Rome II proposals on cross-border legal disputes have been greatly exaggerated.

MEPs opposed to the measure were celebrating an apparent victory earlier this month when the issue failed to appear on the Spanish presidency's list of objectives. Critics of the proposal were further encouraged by Commission hints that it was concentrating on other dossiers.

But Vitorino claims a draft Rome II regulation is still on course for a pre-summer airing followed by a consultation period during which interested parties can make their views known.

'[Commission officials] are working on it,' said Vitorino's spokesman Leonello Gabrici. 'There have just been a few delays. It should be ready before the summer holiday.'

The Rome II regulation would settle the question of which laws take precedence in legal disputes involving more than one country.

But industry has rallied against the proposal, claiming it would undo single market rules allowing companies to operate freely across the Union provided they comply with laws in their home countries. That is because it may have favoured the laws of the country where a dispute arises - and not the firm's 'country of origin'.

British Tory Theresa Villiers said last week 'few would mourn the passing' of a proposal she claimed would 'significantly undermine the single market country of origin principle' - as in the case of firms trading across borders on the web.

Justice Commissioner António Vitorino says reports of the death of the controversial Rome II proposals on cross-border legal disputes have been greatly exaggerated.