Singapore accedes to the Service Convention

Today, 16 May 2023, the Republic of Singapore deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (1965 Service Convention). With the accession of Singapore, the 1965 Service Convention now has 81 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Singapore on 1 December 2023...

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Seminar “Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the Western Balkan Region: HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention”

On 15 and 16 May 2023, the seminar “Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the Western Balkan Region: HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention”, co-organised by the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) and the HCCH, was held in The Hague. The seminar provided an opportunity for participants to further refine their knowledge of the 2019 Judgments Convention and to...

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North Macedonia signs the 2019 Judgments Convention

Today, 16 May 2023, H.E. Mr Krenar Lloga, Minister of Justice for North Macedonia, signed, on behalf of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). The 2019 Judgments Convention, which currently has 28 Contracting Parties, will enter into force in September...

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The HCCH celebrates its 1000th treaty action – Canada accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention

Today, 12 May 2023, Canada deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention). This accession marks a historical milestone: it is the 1000th treaty action relating to an HCCH Convention or Protocol (ratification, accession, approval or other instance in which one of the HCCH...

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Launch of the HCCH-UNIDROIT Digital Assets and Tokens Joint Project

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the formal approval of the HCCH-UNIDROIT Joint Project on Law Applicable to Cross-Border Holdings and Transfers of Digital Assets and Tokens (HCCH-UNIDROIT Digital Assets and Tokens Joint Project). The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH endorsed the launch of the Joint Project during its annual meeting, in March 2023. Today, on 11...

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Ukraine ratifies the Choice of Court Convention

The Permanent Bureau has been informed that on 28 April 2023, Ukraine deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention). With the ratification of Ukraine, 32 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. It will enter into force for Ukraine on 1 August 2023. More information...

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Montenegro signs the 2019 Judgments Convention

Today, 21 April 2023, H.E. Mr Marko Kovač, Minister of Justice, signed, on behalf of Montenegro, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). The 2019 Judgments Convention, which currently has 28 Contracting Parties, will enter into force in September 2023, and for Montenegro only after the...

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Apostille Convention enters into force for Senegal

Today, 23 March 2023, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Senegal following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 13 July 2022.  The 1961 Apostille Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the...

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Evidence Convention enters into force for El Salvador

Today, 20 March 2023, the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1970 Evidence Convention) entered into force for the Republic of El Salvador following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 19 January 2023. The 1970 Evidence Convention currently has 65 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the...

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CGAP 2023 – The HCCH decides to adopt Spanish as official language

Last week, during the annual meeting of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP), the Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) took the historic decision to adopt Spanish as an official language. From 1 July 2024, Spanish will join English and French as one of the three official languages of the Organisation. This development represents an important further...

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