Brussels, 03/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has published a Green Paper on measures to simplify and speed up small claims litigation. The document aims to launch consultation on possible measures to be taken at Community level to create a European order for payment procedure for claims presumed to remain uncontested available throughout all Member States. In a press release, the Commission explains that "order for payment procedures are not available throughout all Member States, and where they exist they vary considerably and are sometimes legally inadmissible or practically unworkable in cases with cross-border implications". The Green Paper also suggests measures to simplify small claims litigation. Explaining its proposals, the Commission explains that "simplified procedures for small claims do presently not exist in all Member States. Therefore the expense of obtaining a judgement against a defendant in another Member State is often disproportionate to the amount of money involved".
The Green Paper will soon be published on the internet at the following address: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/off/green/index_en.htm Contributions to the consultation may be sent to the Commission at the address JAI-coop-jud-civil@cec.eu.int before 31 May 2003. In April 2002 the Commission unveiled a draft regulation on alternative dispute regulation for uncontested claims (see Europe of 20 April 2002).