Press Release: Judgment in Case C-467/16. Brigitte Schlömp v Landratsamt Schwäbisch Hall

In situations in which it is mandatory to have recourse to conciliation proceedings, a Swiss conciliation authority responsible for dealing with civil actions constitutes a court for the purposes of the Lugano II Convention.

Thus, if that authority is seised first of such proceedings, the courts of States (other than Switzerland) bound by that convention must, of their own motion, stay subsequent proceedings which have the same cause of action.