Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 of 25 June 2019 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, and on international child abduction.
Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 (Brussels IIb Regulation) replaced Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 (Brussels IIa Regulation) as from 1 August 2022. This new Regulation applies only to legal proceedings instituted, to authentic instruments formally drawn up or registered, and to court settlements approved or concluded, in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility on or after 1 August 2022.
The Brussels IIa Regulation continues to apply to decisions given in legal proceedings instituted, to authentic instruments formally drawn up or registered and to court settlements approved or concluded, before 1 August 2022 that fall within the scope of this Regulation. Additional information on Brussels IIa Regulation: notifications and online forms.
The Brussels IIb Regulation applies between all Member States of the European Union with the exception of Denmark.
The Brussels IIb Regulation determines the courts of which Member State have jurisdiction to decide on matters of parental responsibility or matrimonial matters, where there is an international element.
It further provides that a decision given in a Member State shall be recognised in the other Member States without any special procedure being required. All decisions given in a Member State on parental responsibility and enforceable there shall be enforced in other Member States without any declaration of enforceability (‘exequatur’) being required.
Additionally, it complements and reinforces the 1980 Hague Convention by specifying rules on cooperation in cases of parental child abduction taking place between Member States.
Each Member State shall designate at least one Central Authority to assist with the application of the Brussels IIb Regulation.
The Brussels IIb Regulation provides for nine standard forms. Notifications made by Member States on Brussels IIb Regulation can be found here.
The Practice Guide for the application of the Brussels IIb Regulation can be found on this page: EJN's publications