Thalia Kruger – författare

Over the past few years the European Community has been active in establishing rules of civil jurisdiction. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the three main instruments for implementing these rules: Brussels I (covering jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters), Brussels IIbis (jurisdiction in matters of divorce and parental responsibility) and the Insolvency Regulation. The Regulations were drawn up from the point of view of the European Community and the facilitation of co-operation between the Member States. However, legal practice shows that disputes, whether of a commercial or family nature, are not always neatly restricted to being either within the competence of the EU, or entirely outside the EU. When a single dispute might fall into the jurisdiction of either EU Member States or third States, the exact scope of application of the Regulations is uncertain.This book covers the background and development of civil jurisdiction rules in the European Union, analysing the three main regulations on civil jurisdiction, and the effect that the application of these rules has on parties domiciled or habitually resident outside the EU, particularly with regard to the recognition and enforcement of judgments made within the EU in external jurisdictions. There is analysis of case law and practical problems which have arisen, or might arise, in disputes where there is a conflict of laws between an EU Member State and a third State, for example involving the rules of the domicile of the defendant, exclusive jurisdiction, forum clauses, and procedural rules such as forum non conveniens and lis pendens. It will also examine the external competences of the European Community in the field of civil jurisdiction with regard to the ECJ Lugano Opinion and the far-reaching implications of this ruling for possible future conventions, both for the EU and for third states who will now have to negotiate with the European Community as a whole, and not with a collection of states.

This authoritative Commentary on the recast Regulation 2019/1111 on matters of matrimonial and parental responsibility presents a deep analysis of the Regulation and is authored by leading experts in family law and private international law.Employing a granular, article-by-article approach, the Commentary acts as a detailed reference point on the uniform jurisdiction rules for divorce, legal separation and marriage annulment, as well as for disputes over parental responsibility with an international element, including child abduction. It provides clear guidance on and interpretation of the jurisdictional rules on collaboration of authorities and on the recognition and execution of judicial verdicts.Key Features:Provides comprehensive article-by-article analysisWritten by leading expertsExplains the mechanics of Regulation 2019/1111 to practitioners and legal scholars alikeIncludes expansive reference to case-law and legal writings, and explains the relation with other EU regulationsThis meticulous and ambitious Commentary will be an indispensable companion for those involved in and practising family law, particularly in cases with a cross-border element, including judges, lawyers and child protection authorities. It will additionally be valuable for scholars of European family law and private international law.

International child abduction occurs when one parent wrongfully (ie in breach of the parental responsibility of the other parent) takes a child to a country other than that of the child's habitual residence, or wrongfully keeps a child in such country. The author of this work was part of a research team that conducted a study, partially funded by the European Commission, to examine this problem in Belgium and Hungary, analysing cases from 2007 and 2008 and interviewing affected parents. This book is a revised version of the Belgian research report, which sets the problem of child abduction within its international context. It looks at the families in which abductions took place, how preparations were made for abduction, the quest for the return of the child (including legal proceedings) and the aftermath of the abductions. Throughout the book, the results of the quantitative and qualitative data are explained. What emerges is that when a child is abducted, the solutions offered by the law are often inadequate. Family conflict is a complex societal issue, and child abduction is a severe form of family conflict. Rather than responding to child abduction with strict and contentious legal proceedings, the book argues that solutions based on respect, psychological assistance, and a search for consensus should be favoured.