Court rulings to be recognized more easily abroad; Moldova joins Hague Convention

Court rulings issued by the courts of Moldova will be able to be recognized and enforced more easily in other states, following the country’s accession to the Hague Convention. The draft law on Moldova’s accession to this convention today was voted by the parliament in the first reading.

By acceding to the Convention, Moldova will join a uniform international mechanism for the circulation of court decisions in civil and commercial matters, based on clear conditions for recognition and enforcement, as well as limited grounds for refusal.

Thus, the country will undertake the obligation to recognize and enforce court decisions issued in other contracting states, under the conditions set out by the treaty. At the same time, decisions issued by national courts will be able to be recognized and enforced in the other member states of the Convention.

Presenting the draft in the parliament’s plenum, State Secretary of Justice Ministry Eduard Serbenco pointed out that the document establishes a uniform international legal framework for the recognition and enforcement of foreign court decisions.

“This convention establishes a uniform multilateral framework, under which court decisions issued in one contracting state are recognized and enforced in the other contracting states. Essentially, the convention sets out clear and predictable conditions for the recognition and enforcement of court decisions in civil and commercial matters, as well as limited grounds for refusal,” said Eduard Serbenco.

According to the state secretary, accession to the Convention will bring direct benefits both to citizens and to the business environment.

“Natural and legal persons will benefit from faster and more predictable procedures for the recognition and enforcement of court decisions in the other contracting states. At the same time, decisions issued by the courts of Moldova will be able to circulate more efficiently in the area of the contracting states,” the official specified.

The document contributes to strengthening legal certainty, reducing the costs and duration of procedures in cross-border disputes and ensuring effective access to justice for persons involved in such cases.

At the same time, through its predictable dispute resolution mechanism, the Convention facilitates international trade, investment and the mobility of persons.

The Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters was adopted on July 2, 2019. The contracting parties include the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Albania and other states.

For Moldova, the Convention will enter into force one year after the deposit of the instrument of accession, which will take place after the completion of internal ratification procedures.