Government to lay out plans for 'close co-operation' with EU on civil legal disputes
2 min read
The Government has said civil legal rulings issued in other European Union countries will be “recognised and enforced” in the UK beyond Brexit.
The Department for Exiting the EU will set out its plans today for settling legal disputes that cross between the UK and other member states when it publishes the latest in a series of position papers.
The proposals cover issues like divorce, business disagreements, consumer rights cases, and child custody.
The department said: “The paper will help to bring clarity to those involved in such disputes about which country’s courts will hear a case, which country’s law will be used to resolve it and that a judgement obtained in one country can be recognised and enforced in another.”
A UK Government source added: “Close cooperation in this area isn’t just in the interest of the UK citizens living in the EU, it’s in the interest of the 3.2 million EU citizens living here in Britain.
“For example, with more and more families living across borders, we need to make absolutely sure that if and when problems arise, they can be reassured that cross-border laws will apply to them in a fair and sensible way.
“By setting out a very clear position on this, we hope that we will be able to work with the Commission to agree a reasoned approach that works for families here in Britain and across the European Union.”
The paper comes on the back of criticism of the Government’s strategy in the Brexit negotiations.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, goaded UK ministers on Twitter yesterday by linking to a string of the European Council’s demands.
He added that it was “essential” for more progress to be made on citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the so-called “divorce bill” before discussions on the future trade relationship between the UK and EU could begin – something that the UK Government wants to happen in October.
Labour, meanwhile, has said the tranche of papers has failed to shed light on the Government’s plans.
“These papers come months after the EU published their plans and offer precious little new information or concrete proposals,” said Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer.
“It is increasingly clear that the Government are publishing bland, non-committal papers as a smokescreen to mask their failure to make any meaningful progress on phase one's core negotiating issues – including citizens’ rights.
“Instead of preparing the ground for failure, the Government should focus on reaching an early agreement to the first stage of talks and make an early commitment to establish strong transitional arrangements.”
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