The 29th GEDIP Annual Meeting was held from September 13-15, 2019 in Katowice, at the invitation of Mr. Szpunar, at the premises of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia. The Group has finalized a new approach to European private international divorce law. One of its members, Paul Lagarde, was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Silesia.
The Group submits a comprehensive approach to conflict of laws and jurisdiction in divorce matters.
In addition to a presentation of topical issues specific to the European Union, the Hague Conference and the European Court of Human Rights, the work focused on the finalisation of the Divorce project. The document adopted proposes a merger of the Brussels IIter – for the divorce chapter – and Rome III Regulations. While consolidating the current conflict-of-law rules, it establishes a set of rules on international jurisdiction which either correct certain current shortcomings, such as the structure of Article 3, or innovate, essentially by introducing the possibility of a choice of court and a private divorce regime. Moreover, the jurisdiction rules are given universal applicability. Finally, in line with a proposal made in 2010 for the Brussels Ibis Regulation, it introduces a regime for the recognition of judgments given in third countries.
The Group has also taken the initiative of a recommendation addressed to the various institutions concerned, with a view to ensuring the continuation of international cooperation in the field of civil status, at a time when the ICCS is facing serious difficulties.
Work in progress includes draft common rules on the law applicable to rights in rem.
Paul Lagarde, honoured by the Authorities of the University of Silesia.
Outside the meeting, the Authorities of the University of Silesia awarded the title of Doctor honoris causa of the University to Paul Lagarde, Professor Emeritus of the University of Paris I and honorary member of GEDIP, during an academic session to which the members of the Group were invited and were able to express their gratitude through the voice of Catherine Kessedjian, President of GEDIP. Paul Lagarde has been in regular contact with the Faculty of Law of this University. The various speeches recalled Paul Lagarde’s major role in the contemporary development of private international law. Within the Group, of which he is a founding member, as well as being a driving force with François Rigaux, he has made a decisive contribution to the work through the acuteness of his legal analysis and his understanding of the new challenges posed by the law of the Union under construction.
Outside the meeting, the Authorities of the University of Silesia awarded the title of Doctor honoris causa of the University to Paul Lagarde, Professor Emeritus of the University of Paris I and honorary member of GEDIP, during an academic session to which the members of the Group were invited and were able to express their gratitude through the voice of Catherine Kessedjian, President of GEDIP.
Paul Lagarde has been in regular contact with the Faculty of Law of this University. The various speeches recalled Paul Lagarde’s major role in the contemporary development of private international law.
Within the Group, of which he is a founding member, as well as being a driving force with François Rigaux, he has made a decisive contribution to the work through the acuteness of his legal analysis and his understanding of the new challenges posed by the law of the Union under construction.
photo © Julia Agnieszka Szymala (Univ. Silesia)
Draft Divorce Regulation – open questions. Law applicable to rights in rem. Codification of the general part of European Private International Law: choice of a strategy. Recasting the Brussels IIbis Regulation. News from the Hague Conference (Judgments Convention). Current case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Codification of the general part of European Private International Law. Current developments in the field of corporate social responsibility for violations of human rights and environmental rights. International Commission on Civil Status.