1 CHILDREN’S RIGHTS UNDER EUROPEAN UNION LAW Dr Geoffrey Shannon Solicitor Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Friday, 13 December 2013

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law Evolution and cooperation in family and child matters Changing of the legal basis 2

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 3 Developments from Brussels II Convention  Amsterdam Treaty

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 13% of marriages international 4

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 5 Main legislative choices

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 6 Variety of Legal Sources  Articles 3 and 6 of the Lisbon Treaty  Articles 20, 26, 67 and 81, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (consolidated version)  Articles 7, 9, 24 and 33 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union  Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 7 Key concepts  Jurisdiction  Habitual residence  Domicile  Nationality

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 8 Define Habitual Residence?  Case 523/07  Case 497/10 – Mercredi v Chaffe  Physical presence a pre-requisite for habitual residence  In the matter of A (children) – Supreme Court – England and Wales – 9 September 2013

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 9 Principal objectives  Same cause of action  Where two or more States satisfy the jurisdiction requirements  Competent Court  Forum shopping

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 10 Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments Non recognition  Jurisdiction  Public policy  Natural justice  Irreconcilable judgments

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 11 Interpretation tools  Regulations’ aims and development  Ex aequo et bono principle  Autonomous interpretation

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law EU Charter of Fundamental Rights  Powerful  Increased prominence  Legally binding  New case law 12

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law EU Charter of Fundamental Rights  Art. 24 (1)  Art. 24 (2)  Art. 24 (3)  Art. 20  Art

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law Brussels II Bis  Art. 15 – particular connection, court best placed and best interests  Art. 56 – new consultation procedure and new procedure for enforcement of the placement order 14

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 15 Legal Aid Directive No. 2003/81 EC Brussels II bis – Council Regulation EC No. 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 October 2005 Practice Guide Service of Documents – Council Regulation EC No. 1393/2007 of 13 November 2007 Rome III – Council Regulation EU No. 1259/2010 of 20 December 2010

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 16 Mediation – Directive No 2008/52/EC

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 17 Maintenance regulation – Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009  comprehensive mechanism to recover and enforce maintenance  abolish the need for an enforcement order in respect of foreign maintenance order  law applied determined by Protocol  applicable law regime determines what maintenance law applies

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 18 Review of Brussels II Bis Proposal on matrimonial property regime Proposal on registered partnerships property regime Initiative on Europe-wide civil status documents  Proposal for a regulation simplifying the acceptance of certain public documents – Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 International adoption and surrogacy

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 19 The European Judicial Network:  Information on divorce:  Information on maintenance obligations: enance_claim_sco_en.htm  Information on parental responsibility: sp_sco_en.htm

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 20 The European Judicial Atlas in Civil and Commercial Matters  Parental responsibility l/html/rc_jmm_information_en.htm  Maintenance obligations l/html/mo_information_en.htm

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law 21