Duration: 2nd October 2017 to 1st March 2021
European platform for access to personal and family rights (EPAPFR)
The European platform for access to family right in Europe aims to help any person confronted to difficulties related to private international law of the family in Europe (EU) by encouraging coordination and collaboration of legal, medical and social system on State members’ territory, whether it is associative or institutional.
This project is part of European Union Justice program, established for the period 2014-2020. The Justice program finances actions having an european added value, which contributes to the continuation of a European area justice establishment.
The project EPAPFR supports the implementation of European instruments for private international law of the family, particularly the directive 2008/52/EC from May 21st 2008 on specific aspects on civil and commercial matter, the rule Brussels II bis from November 27th 2003 on matrimonial and parental responsibility matter, the Hague Convention from October 19th 1996 on parental responsibility and children protection matter, and the rule Rome III from December 20th 2010 establishing a reinforced collaboration on matters concerning law applicable to divorce and to judicial separation.
The project regroups several partners through Europe:
- The private international law research center of University Lyon 3 (EDIEC),
- The belgian association for the right of foreigners (ADDE),
- The international social service in Bulgaria (SSI),
- University of Liège,
- The German institute for youth protection and family law in Germany (DIJUF),
- The Faculty of Law of the University of Verona,
- The organization International Legal information for Women (FIJI), project initiator
The project consists on putting in contact services for access to laws specialized in private international law, taking action in line with the beneficiary in order to facilitate the access to the justice in this field, to promote the training of professionals, to promote the beneficiary informations, to encourage experience and knowledge sharing between state and field actor from the different Member States.
Survey concerning the application of European family law instruments:
During the second phase of the EPAPFR-project, the difficulties practitioners and citizens encounter in the field of international family law shall be analysed. Please find below a full version of the questionnaire prepared by the project partners and a partial version regarding maintenance obligations.
Inauguration of the European Platform (EPAPFR)
The EPAPFR was inaugurated with two live online seminars on February 19, 2021 and February 26, 2021.
The platform offers a compilation of professional information and a mapping of the governmental and non-governmental organizations in the various areas of international family law, with the aim of helping to inform and connect practitioners and those seeking justice to support families in the international context.
Any institution interested in being listed on the platform is invited to contact them.
Contact
Child Support Worldwide – CSW
Duration: since 2014
Heidelberg Conference 2013 – Results and outlook
International maintenance realization in the EU and worldwide
From March 5th to 8th, 2013, more than 230 experts from all groups of actors involved in maintenance from 43 countries around the world gathered in Heidelberg for the International Maintenance Implementation Conference 2013: judges, lawyers, official and government representatives, professors , representatives of the private sector, etc.
The conference was the focal point of a cooperation project funded by the EU. In addition to the DIJuF, project partners were the University of Heidelberg (Prof. Dr. Burkhard Hess, Stefanie Spancken), the University of Aberdeen (Prof. Paul R. Beaumont, Lara Walker), the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Hague Conference on International Private Law, NCSEA (USA ) and the University of Lyon (Prof. Frédérique Ferrand). The aim of this project was to strengthen cross-border cooperation for the effective implementation of the new legal framework (European Maintenance Regulation (EC) No. 4/2009, Hague Maintenance Convention). To this end, two (empirical) research approaches were pursued: The University of Heidelberg examined the implementation of the Maintenance Ordinance in the EU Member States and the cooperation between the central authorities from a qualitative point of view.
The University of Aberdeen used questionnaires to research the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 in its first year after entry into force.
The participants of the Heidelberg Conference in 2013 examined and discussed maintenance law from an international, legal, sociological, ethical, social and socio-political perspective. They discussed legal issues relating to the European Maintenance Regulation No. 4/2009, the Hague Maintenance Convention and the Hague Maintenance Protocol 2007 in depth, addressed international private law and the practical issues of cross-border maintenance and exchanged ideas about the respective national maintenance systems.
The atmosphere of the entire conference was determined by the joy of being together and the lively exchange on the common topic of maintenance. The debates continued after the conference:
The participants and the project partners have developed a paper together in which they present suggestions for improving cross-border legal transactions and their international instruments - the European Maintenance Ordinance No. 4/2009 and the Hague Maintenance Convention. On the other hand, they make recommendations for future steps on the way to a worldwide community of international maintenance realization.
The conclusions and recommendations of the conference can thus be seen as the starting signal for the worldwide networking of all those who feel they belong to the global community of maintenance law and want to participate.
If we dare to look into the future, we can already reveal: an international maintenance realization network will emerge and grow, which will be the basis for an effective and goal-oriented implementation of the legal instruments created.