Rome II Regulation - European Parliament debates today

3.28.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jul 2005

Cases of negligence or defamation, legal issues over traffic accidents abroad or product liability from cross-border purchases. These are some of the issues covered by the proposed Rome II Regulation on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations and which is about to have its 1st reading in the European Parliament later today Wednesday 5 July.

The European Parliament rapporteur, Diana Wallis MEP (Liberal Democrat, Yorkshire & the Humber) will lead the debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

In the debate Ms. Wallis will say:

"This Regulation is groundbreaking for Europe and groundbreaking for the Parliament."

"There has been no previous coherent set of rules dealing with applicable law over such a vast arena of civil and commercial claims. We now have a potential road map for litigation and access to justice in the Internal Market, building on the structures of Brussels I in relation to jurisdiction of our courts."

The Rome II Regulation will be voted tomorrow 6 July.