Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 of 29 May 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses^f1, and in particular Article 44(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 provides that any interested party may request that a judgment issued in one Member State shall be recognised and declared enforceable in another Member State.

Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 indicate which courts shall have jurisdiction in the Member States to deal with applications for a declaration of enforceability and with appeals against such decisions, and enumerate the redress procedures for such purpose.

Annexes I, II and III were amended by the 2003 Act of Accession so as to include the list of competent courts and redress procedures of the acceding States.

Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Slovakia have notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 44(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000, of amendments to the lists of courts and redress procedures set out in Annexes I, II and III.

Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: