The Brussels Regulation and the Lugano Convention

The EU Member States have agreed new rules for deciding jurisdiction in civil and commercial disputes.  They are set out in the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Order 2001, which comes into force on 1 March 2002 (SI 2001 No. 3929).

The Brussels Regulation replaces the 1968 Brussels Convention (Implemented in UK law through the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982). The EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Poland) apply the rules of the 1988 Lugano Convention, which is similar to the Brussels Convention.  Because it has opted out of the Brussels Regulation, Denmark will continue to follow the rules of the Brussels Convention. 

The following guidance notes explain the changes introduced by the consumer provisions of the Brussels Regulation, as put into law through the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Order, The Rome Convention, and Jurisdiction outside the EU & EFTA  

Brussels Regulation

Introduction
Summary
Scope of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Order
General rules  
Rules about contracts
Consumer provisions: Articles 15-17 of the Brussels Regulation

Frequently Asked Questions

1980 Rome Convention

Summary
Scope of the Rome Convention
Freedom of choice: Article 3
Applicable law in the absence of choice: Article 4
Consumer provisions: Article 5
Review of the Rome Convention

Jurisdiction and applicable law in contractual disputes with consumers outside the  EU & EFTA

DTI Contact

 

DTI Enquiry Unit

020 7215 5000

back to e-commerce page