Brussels, 07/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 October, the European Parliament approved new rules for settling small cross-border disputes. By using a simplified European procedure, the rules allow the debt ceiling to be raised, enabling €2,000 to €5,000 to be recovered.
The Council is still due to adopt these rules. The European procedure for settling small disputes, which has been used since 2009, is an optional simplified procedure based on standard forms for recovering funds held by a third party in another EU country. The Parliament has therefore approved the legal changes to simplify the procedure and broaden its use to more cases. These amendments were approved by 650 votes in favour and 26 against, with 28 abstentions.
As well as allowing the ceiling to be raised, the new rules should enable the proportionality of legal costs to be ensured, the use of distance communication technology to be promoted, and practical assistance to be provided, with the countries of the EU having to ensure that the parties receive, free of charge, both practical assistance for filling in the forms and general information on the procedure and competence of the relevant lawcourt. During the first five years of the new rules being applied, MEPs also want the possibility to be examined of raising the ceiling again for small debts. Furthermore, MEPs made sure that the implications might be examined in the coming years that are linked to a possible broadening of the procedure in order to facilitate legal access for employees in a cross-border professional dispute with their employer (for example, regarding salaries received in different member states). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)