European Union: Civil Law

Belgium's new Book 7 of the Civil Code preserves the existing hotel operator liability regime unchanged due to international treaty obligations under the 1962 Paris Convention. The restructured provisions maintain liability caps, mandatory safekeeping duties, and unlimited liability exceptions that have governed the hospitality sector since 1970.

Belgium's House of Representatives has definitively approved Book 7 of the Civil Code, introducing significant reforms to construction contract legislation that will enter into force in September 2027. The final legislation includes several important refinements to the February 2025 proposal, including changes to pre-existing circumstances tests, conformity defect notification rules, and limitation periods. Businesses concluding construction contracts must carefully review and revise their existing contract

A defendant may have a sound answer to a claim and still face judgment if the court papers go unanswered. Once proceedings have been served, the first priority is to establish the deadline for responding. The merits of the dispute can then be examined without the defence being put at risk by a missed procedural step.

Two officers, Jonathan Santana and Jason Smith, claim that the film "contains too many real details" taken from a real 2016 case in which more than USD 21 million concealed in buckets, in which they played key roles as investigators.

The Supreme Court has issued a landmark judgment clarifying the legal framework for damages claims arising from unfair competition acts affecting public interest. This ruling definitively establishes that such acts fall outside the scope of strict antitrust violations and are therefore not subject to the Damages Directive or the extended five-year limitation period. The decision provides crucial guidance on the distinction between competition law violations and unfair competition practices under Spanish law

El Tribunal Supremo examina si una demanda presentada ante un órgano judicial incompetente territorialmente interrumpe la prescripción cuando no llega a admitirse ni notificarse al demandado, especialmente cuando posteriormente se plantea nueva demanda ante el órgano competente una vez transcurrido el plazo. La sentencia analiza la jurisprudencia sobre los requisitos necesarios para que el ejercicio de la acción judicial produzca efectos interruptivos, centrándose en la comunicaci&#

Cyprus has established a comprehensive framework for commercial litigation and dispute resolution, featuring newly reformed civil procedure rules, specialized courts, and robust interim remedies. The jurisdiction offers sophisticated enforcement mechanisms for both domestic and foreign judgments, while maintaining strong arbitration infrastructure aligned with international standards.

Ireland's new Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Bill 2026 introduces comprehensive protections against abusive litigation designed to silence journalists, activists, and citizens exercising their right to public participation. The legislation empowers courts to swiftly dismiss meritless claims, impose costs and damages on plaintiffs, and provides mechanisms to address cross-border SLAPP proceedings.

The Irish High Court has clarified the extent to which commercial property owners can use force to regain possession of their premises. In a case involving a warehouse sale following loan default and receivership, the court examined whether breaking glass and cutting through steel shutters constituted lawful recovery of property. The decision provides important guidance on the boundaries between legitimate property recovery and unlawful forcible entry.