WUNRN
EU - ISSUES & PROBLEMS OF
INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES IN EUROPE - REPORT & CONSULTATION
15
April 2014 - A Report published by the European Commission today highlights
legal problems that international couples (spouses from different
nationalities) still face across Europe when they try to resolve cross-border
disputes concerning their marriage or the custody of their children.
Direct Link to Report: PDF
The
growing mobility of citizens within the European Union has led to an increasing
number of families whose members are of different nationalities, live in
different EU countries or live in an EU country of which some of them may not
be nationals. When families separate, cross-border judicial cooperation is
necessary to give children a secure legal environment to maintain relations
with both parents or guardians who may live in another Member State. The report
published today underlines that more needs to be done to help international
families find legal clarity in such situations (for example on which court is
competent).
The
European Commission is therefore kicking off a wide public consultation on
possible solutions, as well as a campaign to raise awareness of what help and
rules exist in case international families decide to separate. Everyone
interested can submit contributions to the consultation here . The consultation will run until 18 July.