Litigious back-scratching in Europe
The lack of success fee
Fast track limit up
C’est Magnifique
Two new creatures for cross-border claims out of the European womb—the EOP (European Order for Payment) and the ESCP (the European Small Claims Procedure). The e EOP procedure is incorporated in Regulation 1896/2006/ EC of 12 July 2006 and the ESCP in Regulation 861/2007/EC of 11 July 2007. Both procedures have been brought into force in the UK. The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2008 (SI 2008/ 2178) introduced provisions operating alongside the regulations (see CPR and PD 78 and prescribed forms with 47th update). The e EOP procedure kicked off on 12 December 2008 and the ESCP on 1 January 2009. They are both without prejudice to existing cross-border procedures and apply throughout the EC subject to the customary opting out by Denmark thereby avoiding double Dutch pleading. Accommodating jurisdictional changes have been made by the High Court and County Court Jurisdiction (Amendment) Order 2008 (SI 2008/2934)
