There are more than 16 million international couples in the EU, according to the European Commission. From January 2019, their rights and obligations will be secured by a European regulation for matrimonial property regimes and the so-called “registered partnerships”.
Erasmus, the Single Market… People across Europe increasingly study, live, work and build families abroad. Until now, however, there was no EU legislation dealing with property regimes for international couples.
Eighteen EU countries have decided to take their cooperation one step further with an EU regulation that will bring certainty for married couples and registered partners to manage their assets in the event of a divorce or the death of one of the spouses.
In this special report, we analyse the main changes the legislation will bring.
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How family law will change our lives: a practical case
In January next year, a new regulation will govern matrimonial property across 18 member states. We analyse how a real case would have been different with the new legislation in place.
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Family law in the EU
Every person from birth to death enters into relationships with others. These relationships, whatever their type, need to be regulated in order to coexist well, argues Pedro Carrión García de Parada, on the occasion of the European Day of Justice.
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New property rules for international couples greeted as ‘achievement’
The new regulations on property regimes for international couples were welcomed on Tuesday (23 October) by professionals and academists as a step forward that will benefit European citizens, but some questions remain ahead of their entry into force in January 2019.
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Jourová: ‘Hopeful’ that more countries will join new EU family law regime
New rules on property regimes for international couples will enter into force next year. Věra Jourová, the EU's Justice Commissioner, says the new legal system is "clear, robust and flexible" and hopes more countries will join the once they see the benefits for their citizens.
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Enhanced cooperation to make life easier for international couples in the EU
International couples will find it easier to break up from 2019. After years of negotiation, 18 European Union member states will introduce an EU legislation to rule the property regimes for marriages and registered partners in the Union, thanks to enhanced cooperation.
