CONVENTION
on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters_1

PREAMBLE*

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* The shaded type over the headings of a part or of an Article of the Brussels Convention or of one of its Protocols informs the reader of their difference in relation to the corresponding provisions of the Lugano Convention or of its Protocols: these latter either contain a partly or wholly different wording or are absent.

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,

DESIRING to implement the provisions of Article 220 of that Treaty by virtue of which they undertook to secure the simplification of formalities governing the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts or tribunals;

ANXIOUS to strengthen in the Community the legal protection of persons therein established;

CONSIDERING that it is necessary for this purpose to determine the international jurisdiction of their courts, to facilitate recognition and to introduce an expeditious procedure for securing the enforcement of judgments, authentic instruments and court settlements_2;