The EU has taken a step towards establishing contractual relations with Ukraine to recognise and enforce judgments handed down in civil or commercial matters.

"Today the Council agreed to establish treaty relations with Ukraine in the framework of the Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters," reports the press service of the European Council on Monday.

The so-called Convention on the Enforcement of Judgments, concluded in 2019, is an international treaty that commits contracting states to recognise and enforce judgments handed down in civil or commercial matters in other states party to it.

In 2022, Ukraine ratified the Convention, under which treaty relations between Ukraine and the EU will be established on 1 September 2023 unless either of them objects to them.

European Union member states consider that there are no fundamental obstacles, such as related to the independence and efficiency of the judiciary, the fight against corruption or the respect of fundamental rights, which could prevent the EU from entering into treaty relations with Ukraine.

Today's decision will make the Convention an important instrument to facilitate international trade.

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