1 children’s rights under european union law dr geoffrey shannon solicitor special rapporteur on...

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CHILDREN’S RIGHTS UNDER EUROPEAN UNION LAW

Dr Geoffrey ShannonSolicitor

Special Rapporteur on Child ProtectionFriday, 13 December 2013

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law

Evolution and cooperation in family and child matters

Changing of the legal basis

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Developments from Brussels II Convention Amsterdam Treaty


13% of marriages international

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Main legislative choices

Children’s Rights Under European Union Law6

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


Key concepts Jurisdiction Habitual residence Domicile Nationality


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


Principal objectives Same cause of action Where two or more States satisfy the jurisdiction

requirements Competent Court Forum shopping


Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments

Non recognition Jurisdiction Public policy Natural justice Irreconcilable judgments


Interpretation tools Regulations’ aims and development Ex aequo et bono principle Autonomous interpretation


EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Powerful Increased prominence Legally binding New case law

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EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Art. 24 (1) Art. 24 (2) Art. 24 (3) Art. 20 Art. 21

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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

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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


Mediation – Directive No 2008/52/EC


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


Review of Brussels II BisProposal on matrimonial property

regimeProposal on registered partnerships

property regimeInitiative 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


The European Judicial Network:http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/index_en.htm Information on divorce:http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/

divorce_sco_en.htm Information on maintenance obligations:http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/maintenance_claim/

maintenance_claim_sco_en.htm Information on parental responsibility:http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/parental_resp/

parental_resp_sco_en.htm


The European Judicial Atlas in Civil and Commercial Matters Parental responsibilityhttp://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/

judicialatlascivil/html/rc_jmm_information_en.htm

Maintenance obligationshttp://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/

judicialatlascivil/html/mo_information_en.htm


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