Press Release: A first in EU history: enhanced cooperation to help international couples is in force

For the first time in EU history, Member States are using the enhanced cooperation procedure to push forward with rules allowing international couples to select which country's law would apply to their divorce.

The decision to establish enhanced cooperation was published in the EU's Official Journal on 22 July 2010. Enhanced cooperation allows a group of at least nine nations to implement measures if all 27 Member States fail to reach agreement.

In this case it will allow 14 EU countries to move forward with a Regulation that will give couples legal certainty and prevent "rush to court" in divorces, avoiding emotionally and financially costly proceedings. The Regulation must now be approved by the participating 14 countries during an upcoming Council meeting before it can enter into force. The procedure applies to the 14 EU countries at the time of its establishment, but others can join at any time.

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