Brussels IIa Regulation - Matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility

National information and online forms concerning Regulation No. 2201/2003.

General information

Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000

The Regulation applies between all Member States of the European Union with the exception of Denmark.

A judgment given in a Member State shall be recognised in the other Member States without any special procedure being required.

A judgment given in a Member State and enforceable in that State shall be enforced in another Member State when, on the application of any interested party, it has been declared enforceable there. An application for a declaration of enforceability shall be submitted to the court appearing in Court for recognition/enforceability application. The appeal against the decision on the application for a declaration of enforceability shall be lodged with the court appearing in the list Court for appeal against a decision on recognition/enforceability.

Judgments on access rights and judgments concerning the return of the child are recognised and enforceable in other Member States, without the need for a declaration of enforceability, provided they are accompanied by a certificate.

The Regulation provides for four standard forms.

Each Member State shall designate at least one central authority to assist with the application of the Regulation.

The European e-Justice Portal provides you with information concerning the application of the Regulation and a user-friendly tool for filling in the forms.

Please select the relevant country's flag to obtain detailed national information.

Related links

Practice Guide for the application of the Brussels IIa Regulation (2014) PDF (2985 Kb) en

ARCHIVED European Judicial ATLAS website (closed on 30 September 2017)


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Family Law - Brussels IIa Regulation - Matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility


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Last update: 21/03/2022

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