Council Decision (EU) 2016/954 of 9 June 2016 authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions on the property regimes of international couples, covering both matters of matrimonial property regimes and the property consequences of registered partnerships

• Published date: 16 June 2016
• Official Gazette Publication: Gazzetta ufficiale dell'Unione europea, L 159, 16 giugno 2016,Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea, L 159, 16 de junio de 2016,Journal officiel de l'Union européenne, L 159, 16 juin 2016

16.6.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 159/16

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COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/954

of 9 June 2016

authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions on the property regimes of international couples, covering both matters of matrimonial property regimes and the property consequences of registered partnerships

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 329(1) thereof,

Having regard to the requests made by the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) The Union has set itself the objective of maintaining and developing an area of freedom, security and justice in which the free movement of persons is ensured. For the progressive establishment of such an area, the Union is to adopt measures relating to judicial cooperation in civil matters with cross-border implications.

(2) Pursuant to Article 81 of the Treaty on the Functioning of European Union (TFEU), those measures are to include promoting the compatibility of the rules applicable in the Member States concerning conflict of laws, including measures concerning family law with cross-border implications.

(3) On 16 March 2011, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matters of matrimonial property regimes, and a proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions regarding the property consequences of registered partnerships.

(4) At its meeting of 3 December 2015 the Council concluded that it would not be possible to reach an agreement within a reasonable period by the Union as a whole for the adoption of the regulations.

(5) In these circumstances, Malta, Croatia and Belgium subsequently addressed requests to the Commission by letters dated 14 December 2015, 15 December 2015 and 17 December 2015 respectively, and Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden by letters dated 18 December 2015, indicating that they wished to establish enhanced cooperation between themselves in the area of jurisdiction, applicable law and the

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