Mixed nationality couples from twelve EU countries may get simpler and fairer divorce rules after MEPs in charge of legal affairs unanimously backed a first ever request for ‘enhanced co-operation’, a controversial solution allowing groups of countries to go their own way when they can’t get consensus among all 27 EU states.
“We are giving couples more freedom and choice on their divorce, which is a difficult moment in their lives,” Polish centre-right MEP Tadeusz Zwiefka said during the committee meeting on Tuesday (1 June).
The committee vote gives a positive signal to EU justice ministers, who are set to endorse the initiative on Friday in Luxembourg. A formal consent by the parliament’s plenary is likely to follow later this month or in July.
Under the proposal, mixed couples or spouses living in different EU countries would be able to choose which country’s law governs their divorce, so long there is a connection to that country, either by nationality or common residence.
Each year in the EU there are over 350,000 cross-border marriages and 170,000 divorces, representing 20 percent of all EU divorces. Germany, France and the UK are the countries with the highest rates of international divorces.
Some 60 percent of Europe’s citizens expect the EU to play a role in facilitating cross-border divorces, a flash Eurobarometer survey on family law shows.
The member states behind the initiative are limited to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, but others may join at any stage.
