Resolution on the accession of Montenegro to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the accession of Montenegro to the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters.

The Judgments Convention, adopted under the auspices of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, facilitates the effective international circulation of judgments in civil or commercial matters by providing legal certainty and predictability to parties involved in cross-border transactions and clarity as to whether and to what extent a judgment will be recognised and enforced in another jurisdiction.

Pursuant to Article 24 of the Judgments Convention, any non-EU state can accede to the Convention. Montenegro deposited its instrument of ratification of the Judgments Convention on 21 February 2025. If the Union accepts Montenegro’s accession to the Judgments Convention, it will enter into force on 1 March 2026 and will be applicable between the Union and Montenegro.

Under the current practice, the Commission does not initiate a formal procedure in accordance with Article 218(6) TFEU for conventions with a non‑objection mechanism but only informs Parliament and the Council of any third country’s request to accede to a given Hague instrument.

Against this background, Parliament welcomed the positive assessments made by the Commission with the aim of establishing treaty relations with Montenegro in the framework of the Judgments Convention. Therefore, it supports the accession of Montenegro to the Judgments Convention.