New Jurisdiction for Divorce and Children

On 1 March 2001, a new EC regulation (known as ‘Brussels II’) brought into force the Convention on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters 1998. The Regulation is the Council Regulation on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters and in matters of Parental Responsibility for Joint Children. It is Council Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 and applies to all Member States of the European Community, except Denmark. It applies to all proceedings started after 1 March and to proceedings started before that date, if they comply with the jurisdictional requirements of Brussels II.