The project "An old concept and a new need: a Code of European Civil Procedural Law" addresses the necessity of codifying European civil procedural law. This legal framework governs judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters, facilitating the exercise of citizens’ rights in cross-border cases. Over time, the adoption of additional instruments—covering areas such as maintenance, family, and succession—has led to fragmentation, with conflicting mechanisms operating across different categories. This patchwork presents barriers to justice and complicates legal procedures, even for professionals.
The research explores codification as a solution to this issue. In 2013, it was estimated that such a reform could generate annual savings of €140 million, benefiting citizens and small businesses. Since then, however, the idea has been neglected, while the proliferation of new instruments has worsened the complexity and accessibility of the field.
Period abroad: November 2024 - January 2025
"The project seeks to address whether codifying European civil procedural law is necessary or if further sectoral development is a better path for the EU legislator. This research will contribute to a new research agenda and foster collaboration with Prof. Francesca Clara Villata and the research team at the Department of International, Legal, Historical and Political Studies at the University of Milan.”
January 2025