Facilitating cross-border debt recovery: the European payment order and small claims regulations

Reviews EC legislative initiatives to remove obstacles to cross-border debt recovery. Examines the shortcomings of the existing system, the background to the creation of a European order for payment (EOP) procedure under Regulation 1896/2006 and key features of the EOP, including its scope, the application process and enforcement mechanisms. Discusses the European small claims procedure established under Regulation 861/2007 and highlights its scope and main elements. Comments on the Regulations' definition of cross-border claims and the optional nature of the mechanisms they introduce