Bilateral Civil Procedure Conventions

The Conventions listed below provide for the taking of evidence and the service of documents abroad, and are in force between the United Kingdom and the States named.

The UK is also a party to:

i) Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extradjudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters(The Hague, 15.11.1965 : Treaty Series 050/1969 Cmnd 3968)

ii) Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (The Hague, 18.3.1970 Treaty Series 020/1977 Cmnd 6727)

The following EC Council Regulations should also be noted:

i) Council Regulation EC No. 1348/2000 of 29 May 2000, on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters. (Reference: Official Journal of the European Communities, L Series No. L160/37 of 30 June 2000). Entry into Force: 31 May 2001.

ii) Council Regulation EC No. 1206/2001 of 28 May 2001, on cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters. (Reference: Official Journal of the European Communities, L Series No. L174/1 of 27 June 2001). Entry into Force: 1 July 2001.

BILATERALS

The folowing are listed in the order of state/date of signature/publication reference. "TS" is an abbreviation for "Treaty Series".

Algeria, 11/07/2006, Treaty Series No.16/2010 Cmd 7919

Austria, 31/03/1931, TS 4/1932 Cmd 4007   

Exchange of Notes re. continued application, 28/06/1951, TS 99/1951 Cmnd 8408   
 
 
Bahamas, 05/04/1984, Not Published 

 
Belgium, 21/06/1922, TS 13/1924 Cmd 2069   

(Supplementary Convention) 04/11/1932, TS 18/1934 Cmd 4639    

Czechoslovakia, 11/11/1924, TS 6/1926 Cmd 2637   

Supplementary Convention, 15/02/1935, TS 030/1935 Cmd 4980   

Exchange of Notes Amending Arts. 3(1) and 8(3) 5-25/1/1972, TS 36/1972 Cmnd 4934   
 
Note: These agreements continue to apply in respect of the Czech and Slovak Republics
 
Denmark, 29/11/1932, TS 18/1933 Cmd 4334   
 
Finland, 11/08/1933, TS 7/1934 Cmd 4507   

France, 02/02/1922, TS 5/1922 Cmd 1661   
 
Supplementary Convention, 15/04/1936, TS 12/1940 Cmd 6206  

Exchange of Notes, 26/08/1977, TS 4/1978 Cmnd 7064    
 
Germany FR, 20/03/1928, TS 5/1929 Cmd 3286   
 
Re-application, 14/08/1959, TS 73/1960 Cmnd 1202   
 
Greece, 27/02/1936, TS 5/1938 Cmd 5643   

Hungary, 25/09/1935, TS 11/1936 Cmd 5190   
 
Iraq, 25/07/1935, TS 8/1937 Cmd 5369   
 
Israel, 05/07/1966, TS 2/1968 Cmnd 3513
 
Italy, 17/12/1930, TS 17/1932 Cmnd 4105   
 
Lebanon

On 31/2/1952, the Government of Lebanon indicated that it regarded itself as continuing to be bound by the 1922 UK-France Convention (above), which was extended by France to Lebanon on 13/7/1928

Libya

17/11/2008, Country Series Libya No.4/2009 Cm 7551. Entered into force 29/04/09 but not yet published in the Treaty Series

Netherlands, 31/05/1932, TS 24/1933 Cmd 4381   
 
Supplementary Convention, 17/11/1967, TS 15/1970 Cmnd 4278    
 
Norway, 30/01/1931, TS 35/1931 Cmd 3934   
 
Poland, 26/08/1931, TS 16/1932 Cmd 4104   
 
Portugal, 09/07/1931, TS 13/1932 Cmd 4070   
 
Romania, 15/06/1978, TS 63/1980 Cmnd 7981   

Spain, 27/06/1929, TS 18/1930 Cmd 3544   
 
Sweden, 28/08/1930, TS 10/1931 Cmd 3777     
 
Switzerland, 03/12/1937, TS 16/1939 Cmd 5973    
 
Exchange of Notes, 01/06/1981, Supp List 61/1981 Cmnd 8357

Exchange of Notes, 17/07/1981, Supp List 94/1981 Cmnd 8461

Turkey, 28/11/1931, TS 14/1933 Cmd 4318     
 
Supplementary Convention, 10/02/1939, TS 014/1941 Cmd 6292  

United Arab Emirates, 7/12/2006, TS 001/2009 Cmd 7535  
  
Yugoslavia, 27/02/1936, TS 28/1937 Cmnd 5542     
 
Note: Continues to apply between the United Kingdom and the following States; Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia, FR.