Brussels, 03/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Community formally became a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCPIL). Vice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Justice, declared in a press release, that this accession “will allow for increased consistency as regards private international law, making life easier for those who decide to move and reside abroad". The HCPIL is a global inter-governmental organisation counting 65 member states, including all member states of the EU. The statutory objective of the conference is to work for the "progressive unification of the rules of private international law". This involves finding internationally agreed approaches to issues such as jurisdiction of the courts, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in a wide range of areas, from international civil procedure and commercial law to matters of marriage and personal status and the protection of the family and children. Mr Frattini concluded, “our aim is to facilitate EU citizens' life setting clear rules as regards jurisdiction of the courts, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of judgments not only within the EU territory, but also at international level”. (bc)