PROTOCOL

on the interpretation by the Court of Justice of the Convention of 27 September 1968 on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (1)

(90/C 189/03)

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,

Having regard to the Declaration annexed to the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, signed at Brussels on 27 September 1968,

Have decided to conclude a Protocol conferring jurisdiction on the Court of Justice of the European Communities to interpret that Convention, and to this end have designated as their Plenipotentiaries:

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS:

MrAlfons VRANCKX,

Minister of Justice;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY:

Mr Gerhard JAHN,

Federal Minister of Justice;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC:

Mr René PLEVEN,

Keeper of the Seals,

Minister of Justice;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC:

Mr Erminio PENNACCHINI,

Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice;

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG:

Mr Eugène SCHAUS,

Minister of Justice,

Deputy Prime Minister;

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS:

Mr C. H. F. POLAK,

Minister of Justice;

WHO, meeting within the Council, having exchanged their Full Powers, found in good and due form,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall have jurisdiction to give rulings on the interpretation of the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and of the Protocol annexed to that Convention, signed at Brussels on 27 September 1968, and also on the interpretation of the present Protocol.

The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall also have jurisdiction to give rulings on the interpretation of the Convention on the accession of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Convention of 27 September 1968 and to this Protocol (1).

The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall also have jurisdiction to give rulings on the interpretation of the Convention on the accession of the Hellenic Republic to the Convention of 27 September 1968 and to this Protocol, as adjusted by the 1978 Convention (2).

The Court of Justice of the European Communities shall also have jurisdiction to give rulings on the interpretation of the Convention on the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the Convention of 27 September 1968 and to this Protocol, as adjusted by the 1978 Convention and the 1982 Convention (3).

Article 2

The following courts may request the Court of Justice to give preliminary rulings on questions of interpretation:

1. - in Belgium: la Cour de Cassation- het Hof van Cassatie and le Conseil d`État - de Raad van State,

- in Denmark: hoejesteret,

- in the Federal Republic of Germany: die obersten Gerichtshoefe des Bundes,

- in Greece: the anvtata dikasthria,

- in Spain: el Tribunal Supremo,

- in France: la Cour de Cassation and le Conseil d`État,

- in Ireland: the Supreme Court,

- in Italy: la Corte Suprema di Cassazione,

- in Luxembourg: la Cour supérieure de Justice when sitting as Cour de Cassation,

- in the Netherlands: de Hoge Raad,

- in Portugal: o Supremo Tribunal de Justiça and o Supremo Tribunal Administrativo,

- in the United Kingdom: the House of Lords and courts to which application has been made under the second paragraph of Article 37 or under Article 41 of the Convention (4);

2. the courts of the Contracting States when they are sitting in an appellate capacity;

3. in the cases provided for in Article 37 of the Convention, the courts referred to in that Article.

Article 3

1. Where a question of interpretation of the Convention or of one of the other instruments referred to in Article 1 is raised in a case pending before one of the courts listed in point 1 of Article 2, that court shall, if it considers that a decision on the question is necessary to enable it to give judgment, request the Court of Justice to give a ruling thereon.

2. Where such a question is raised before any court referred to in point 2 or 3 of Article 2, that court may, under the conditions laid down in paragraph 1, request the Court of Justice to give a ruling thereon.

Article 4

1. The competent authority of a Contracting State may request the Court of Justice to give a ruling on a question of interpretation of the Convention or of one of the other instruments referred to in Article 1 if judgments given by courts of that State conflict with the interpretation given either by the Court of Justice or in a judgment of one of the courts of another Contracting State referred to in point 1 or 2 of Article 2. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply only to judgments which have become res judicata.

2. The interpretation given by the Court of Justice in response to such a request shall not affect the judgments which gave rise to the request for interpretation.

3. The Procurators-General of the Courts of Cassation of the Contracting States, or any other authority designated by a Contracting State, shall be entitled to request the Court of Justice for a ruling on interpretation in accordance with paragraph 1.

4. The Registrar of the Court of Justice shall give notice of the request to the Contracting States, to the Commission and to the Council of the European Communities; they shall then be entitled within two months of the notification to submit statements of case or written observations to the Court.

5. No fees shall be levied or any costs or expenses awarded in respect of the proceedings provided for in this Article.

Article 5

1. Except where this Protocol otherwise provides, the provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and those of the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice annexed thereto, which are applicable when the Court is requested to give a preliminary ruling, shall also apply to any proceedings for the interpretation of the Convention and the other instruments referred to in Article 1.

2. The Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice shall, if necessary, be adjusted and supplemented in accordance with Article 188 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community.

Article 6

. . . (1)

Article 7 (2)

This Protocol shall be ratified by the signatory States. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities.

Article 8 (3)

This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step; provided that it shall at the earliest enter into force at the same time as the Convention of 27 September 1968 on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.

Article 9

The Contracting States recognize that any State which becomes a member of the European Economic Community, and to which Article 63 of the Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters applies, must accept the provisions of this Protocol, subject to such adjustments as may be required.

Article 10 (4)

The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities shall notify the signatory States of:

(a) the deposit of each instrument of ratification;

(b) the date of entry into force of this Protocol;

(c) any designation received pursuant to Article 4 (3);

(d) ... (5).

Article 11

The Contracting States shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities the texts of any provisions of their laws which necessitate an amendment to the list of courts in point 1 of Article 2.

Article 12

This Protocol is concluded for an unlimited period.

Article 13

Any Contracting State may request the revision of this Protocol. In this event, a revision conference shall be convened by the President of the Council of the European Communities.

Article 14 (6)

This Protocol, drawn up in a single original in the Dutch, French, German and Italian languages, all four texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Secretariat of the Council of the European Communities. The Secretary-General shall transmit a certified copy to the Government of each signatory State (7).

Zu Urkund dessen haben die unterzeichneten Bevollmaechtigten ihre Unterschrift unter dieses Protokoll gesetzt.

En foi de quoi les plénipotentiaires soussignés ont apposé leur signature au bas du présent protocole.

In fede di che i plenipotenziari sottoscritti hanno apposto le loro firme in calce al presente protocollo.

Ten blijke waarvan de onderscheiden gevolmachtigden hun handtekening onder dit Protocol hebben gesteld.

Geschehen zu Luxembourg am dritten Juni neunzehnhunderteinundsiebzig.

Fait à Luxembourg, le trois juin mil neuf cent soixante et onze.

Fatto a Lussemburgo, addi tre giugno millenovencentosettantuno.

Gedaan te Luxemburg, de derde juni negentienhonderd eenenzeventig.

Pour Sa Majesté le roi des Belges

Voor Zijne Majesteit de Koning der BelgenAlfons VRANCKX

Fuer den Praesidenten der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGerhard JAHN

Pour le président de la République françaiseRené PLEVEN

Per il presidente delle Repubblica italianaErminio PENNACCHINI

Pour Son Altesse Royale le grand-duc de LuxembourgEugène SCHAUS

Voor Hare Majesteit de Koningin der NederlandenC. H. F. POLAK

JOINT DECLARATION

The Governments of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

On signing the Protocol on the interpretation by the Court of Justice of the Convention of 27 September 1968 on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters,

Desiring to ensure that the provisions of that Protocol are applied as effectively and as uniformly as possible,

Declare themselves ready to organize, in cooperation with the Court of Justice, an exchange of information on the judgments given by the courts referred to in Article 2 (1) of that Protocol in application of the Convention and the Protocol of 27 September 1968.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die unterzeichneten Bevollmaechtigten ihre Unterschrift unter diese Gemeinsame Erklaerung gesetzt.

En foi de quoi les plénipotentiaires soussignés ont apposé leur signature au bas de la présente déclaration commune.

In fede di che i plenipotenziari sottoscritti hanno apposto le loro firme in calce alla presente dichiarazione comune.

Ten blijke waarvan de onderscheiden gevolmachtigden hun handtekening onder deze Gemeenschappelijke Verklaring hebben gesteld.

Geschehen zu Luxemburg am dritten Juni neunzehnhunderteinundsiebzig.Fait à Luxembourg, le trois juin mil neuf cent soixante et onze.Fatto a Lussemburgo, addi tre giugno millenovecentosettantuno.Gedaan te Luxemburg, de derde juni negentienhonderd eenenzeventing.

Pour Sa Majesté le roi des Belges

Voor Zijne Majesteit de Koning der BelgenAlfons VRANCKX

Fuer den Praesidenten der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGerhard JAHN

Pour le président de la République françaiseRené PLEVEN

Per il presidente della Repubblica italianaErminio PENNACCHINI

Pour Son Altesse Royale le grand-duc de LuxembourgEugène SCHAUS

Voor Hare Majesteit de Koningin der NederlandenC. H. F. POLAK

JOINT DECLARATION of 9 October 1978 (90/C 189/04)

THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY , MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Desiring to ensure that in the spirit of the Convention of 27 September 1968 uniformity of jurisdiction should also be achieved as widely as possible in maritime matters,

Considering that the International Convention relating to the arrest of sea-going ships, signed at Brussels on 10 May 1952, contains provisions relating to such jurisdiction,

Considering that all of the Member States are not parties to the said Convention,

Express the wish that Member States which are coastal States and have not already become parties to the Convention of 10 May 1952 should do so as soon as possible.

Udfaerdiget i Luxembourg, den niende oktober nitten hundrede og otteoghalvfjerds.

Geschehen zu Luxemburg am neunten Oktober neunzehnhundertachtundsiebzig.

Done at Luxembourg on the ninth day of October in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight.

Fait à Luxembourg, le neuf octobre mil neuf cent soixante-dix-huit.

Arna dhéanamh i Lucsamburg, an naoú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair sa bhliain míle naoi gcéad seachtó a hocht.

Fatto a Lussemburgo, addi nove ottobre millenovecentosettantotto.

Gedaan te Luxemburg, de negende oktober negentienhonderd achtenzeventig.

Pour Sa Majesté le roi des Belges

Voor Zijne Majesteit de Koning der BelgenRenaat VAN ELSLANDE

For Hendes Majestaet Danmarks DronningNathalie LIND

Fuer den Praesidenten der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandDr Hans-Jochen VOGEL

Pour le président de la République françaiseAlain PEYREFITTE

Thar ceann Uachtarán na hEireannGerard COLLINS

Per il presidente della Repubblica italianaPaolo BONIFACIO

Pour Son Altesse Royale le grand-duc de LuxembourgRobert KRIEPS

Voor Hare Majesteit de Koningin der NederlandenProf. Mr J. de RUITER

For Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandThe Right Honourable the Lord ELWYN-JONES, CH.

JOINT DECLARATION of 26 May 1989 concerning the ratification of the Convention on the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the 1968 Brussels Convention (90/C 189/05)

Upon signature of the Convention on the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the 1968 Brussels Convention, done at Donostia - San Sebastián on 26 May 1989,

THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

DESIROUS that, in particular with a view to the completion of the internal market, application of the Brussels Convention and of the 1971 Protocol should be rapidly extended to the entire Community,

WELCOMING the conclusion on 16 September 1988 of the Lugano Convention which extends the principles of the Brussels Convention to those States becoming parties to the Lugano Convention, designed principally to govern relations between the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) and those of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) with regard to the legal protection of persons established in any of those States and to the simplification of formalities for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments,

CONSIDERING that the Brussels Convention has as its legal basis Article 220 of the Treaty of Rome and is interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Communities,

MINDFUL that the Lugano Convention does not affect the application of the Brussels Convention as regards relations between Member States of the European Economic Community, since such relations must be governed by the Brussels Convention,

NOTING that the Lugano Convention is to enter into force after two States, of which one is a member of the European Communities and the other a member of the European Free Trade Association, have deposited their instruments of ratification,

DECLARE THEMSELVES READY to take every appropriate measure with a view to ensuring that national procedures for the ratification of the Convention on the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the Brussels Convention, signed today, are completed as soon as possible and, if possible, by 31 December 1992 at the latest.

En fe de lo cual, los abajo firmantes suscriben la presente Declaración común.

Til bekraeftelse heraf har undertegnede underskrevet denne erklaering.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die Unterzeichneten diese Erklaerung unterschrieben.

Se pistvsh tvn anvterv, oi katvui ypegracan thn paroysa dhlvsh.

In witness whereof the undersigned have signed this declaration.

En foi de quoi, les soussignés ont signé la présente déclaration.

Dá fhianú sin, chuir na daoine thíos-sínithe a lámh leis an Dearbhú seo.

In fede di che, i sottoscritti hanno firmato la presente dichiarazione.

Ten blijke waarvan de ondergetekenden hun handtekening onder deze verklaring hebben gesteld.

Em fé do que, os abaixo-assinados apuseram a sua assinatura no final da presente declaração comum.

Hecho en Donostia- San Sebastián, a veintiseis de mayo de mil novecientos ochenta y nueve.

Udfaerdiget i Donostia - San Sebastián, den seksogtyvende maj nitten hundrede og niogfirs.

Geschehen zu Donostia - San Sebastián am sechsundzwanzigsten Mai neunzehnhundertneunundachtzig.

Egine sth Donostia- San Sebastián, stiss eikosi eji Maioy xilia enniakosia ogdonta ennea.

Done at Donostia - San Sebastián on the twenty-sixth day of May in the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine.

Fait à Donostia - San Sebastián, le vingt-six mai mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-neuf.

Arna dhéanamh in Donostia - San Sebastián, an séú lá ís fiche de Bhealtaine sa bhliain míle naoi gcéad ochtó a naoi.

Fatto a Donostia - San Sebastián, addì ventisei maggio millenovecentottantanove.

Gedaan te Donostia - San Sebastián, de zesentwintigste mei negentienhonderd negenentachtig.

Feito em Donostia - San Sebastián, em vinte e seis de Maio de mil novecentos e oitenta e nove.

Pour le gouvernement du royaume de Belgique

voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk BelgiëJacques de LENTDECKER

For regeringen for Kongeriget Danmark (1) Jette Birgitte SELSOE

Fuer die Regierung der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandDr Georg TREFFTZ

Dr Klaus KINKEL

Gia thn Kybernhsh thss Ellhnikhss DhmokratiassGiannh SKOULARIKH

Por el Gobierno del Reino de EspañaEnrique MUGICA HERZOG

Pour le gouvernement de la République françaisePierre ARPAILLANGE

Thar ceann Rialtas na hEireannPatrick WALSHE

Per il governo della Repubblica italianaGiuliano VASSALLI

Pour le gouvernement du grand-duché de LuxembourgRonald MAYER

Voor de Regering van het Koninkrijk der NederlandenFrits KORTHALS ALTES

J. SPOORMAKER

Pelo Governo da República PortuguesaFernando NOGUEIRA

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandJohn PATTEN

(1)With a reservation concerning the Faroes and Greenland. See footnote 1 on page 20.