The European regulations on matrimonial property regimes for international married couples and registered partnerships, presented in 2011, came into force on Tuesday 29 January as part of an enhanced cooperation procedure involving 18 Member States.
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Sweden had reached an agreement in 2016 (see EUROPE 11569). These countries represent 70% of the European population and the majority of international couples living in the EU, the European Commission recalled in a statement.
The two Regulations harmonise the rules on conflict of laws between Member States in order to determine the applicable law and to determine the competent court which will decide on the division of assets, inter alia, in the event of separation of the couple or death.
"More than 16 million international couples will benefit from clear procedures (...) They will be able to save around €350 million each year in legal costs", said the European Commissioner for Justice, Věra Jourová.
The Council of the Notariats of the European Union (CNUE) also welcomed the entry into force of the two regulations and joined the European Commission in encouraging other Member States to join the reinforced cooperation. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)