UK signs up to Hague Convention on enforcement of foreign judgments

The UK committed to joining the 2019 Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters and signed up to it on 12th January 2024.

How will this help UK businesses?

The Hague Convention will help UK businesses who have dealings in other countries. It means that, should a dispute arise, any resulting judgment will be recognised and can be enforced in the courts of other countries that have joined the Convention.

Whilst many countries have domestic rules that allow judgments from other countries to be enforced, the rules in each may well differ, so the Convention’s international framework of rules gives greater certainty. It should also save time and money for enforcement.

Who has joined the Hague Convention?

There are currently 29 countries who are already part of the 2019 Hague Convention, including the 27 EU member states, the EU and Ukraine. Uruguay has signed and ratified the Convention, with it set to enter into force on 01 October 2024. 

In addition this year, it has had several signatories: Israel, Costa Rica, the Russian Federation and the United States.

With 91 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), the main multilateral forum for private international law rules consisting of several conventions including the 2019 Hague Convention, Hague 2019 has a potentially global reach. 

When will it come into force?

Hague 2019 will come into force in the UK 12 months after ratification and will apply only to judgments given in proceedings commenced after that date.