PUBLIC COUNCILOF THEEUROPEANUNION. Brusels,7April /10 InterinstitutionalFile: 2009/0157(COD) LIMITE JUSTCIV61 CODEC269

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1 ConseilUE COUNCILOF THEEUROPEANUNION PUBLIC Brusels,7April /0 InterinstitutionalFile: 2009/057(COD) LIMITE JUSTCIV6 CODEC269 NOTE from: to: Subject: thedelegationofgermany WorkingParty oncivillaw Maters(Succesion) foraregulationoftheeuropeanparliamentandofthecouncilon jurisdiction,applicablelaw,recognitionandenforcementofdecisionsand authenticinstrumentsinmatersofsuccesionandthecreationofaeuropean CertificateofSuccesion -fromthedelegationofgermany fortheamendmentsinthetext Theaimofthedocumentistorecalsomeoftheproposals madeindocument58/0 ADD5 (amending, whereappropriate,the Englishtranslation,and withoutprejudicetootherdrafting proposalsmadein58/0add5)andtoaddsomeproposalsmoreofadraftingnature. ThisdocumentcorespondstotheworkingdocumentbythedelegationofGermanywhich wasdistributedduringthemeetingoftheworkingparty oncivillaw Maters(Succesion) on29march /0 BS/ms DGH2A

2 A. Property law and succession law Our proposal concerning the line to draw between property law and succession law would be to exclude property law broadly. Only the transmission of property by operation of the law by reason of the death of the deceased (transfer of property upon death) should fall within the scope of Article 9(2)(f). The following amendments are proposed in order to achieve this: Article (3)(f): (j) Fragen des Sachenrechts, insbesondere die Art und die Vererblichkeit dinglicher Rechte an einem Gegenstand, Verfügungen über solche Rechte unter Lebenden sowie die Eintragung solcher Rechte oder an solchen Rechten in öffentlichen Registern. "(j) questions covered by property law, in particular the nature and the transmissibility by way of succession of rights in rem relating to property, inter vivos dispositions of such rights and the recording of such rights, or of references to such rights, in public registers." Article 9(2)(f) As there are different types of legacies, the word Vermächtnisnehmer in German is absolutely misleading (see explanation given in our written comments). Therefore we propose the following amendment: (f) der Übergang der Nachlassgüter auf die Erben ( ) einschließlich der Bedingungen für die Annahme oder Ausschlagung der Erbschaft ( ) und deren Wirkungen; (f) die mit dem Tod des Erblassers entstandenen Rechte und Pflichten des Vermächtnisnehmers; Im Französischen heißt es richtig: transmission. Übertragung ist falsch. 8225/0 BS/ms 2

3 "(f) the transmission of assets and rights making up the succession to the heirs ( ) including the conditions and effects of accepting or waiving the succession ( ); (f) the rights and obligations of the legatee which have their source in the death of the testator;" 2 Article 9(2)(l) The provision is too broad and risks covering dispositions inter vivos which should not fall within the scope of the lex successionis. (l) die Anordnungen des Erblassers über die Verteilung des Nachlasses. "(l) the instructions made by the deceased with respect to the sharing of the inheritance." B. Matters of reserved portion / compulsory share Beneficiaries of a reserved portion have different position, depending on the law applicable. The formulation in Article 9(2)(j) covers the situation under French law, but it is unclear whether it also covers the rules concerning compulsory share (Pflichtteil) under German law. The proposal aims at clarifying: 2 "Transfer" in the English version makes the same mistake as the German version. The French version correctly reads : "transmission". The translation seems to be misleading. What is meant is: rights of the legatee created by operation of the law in case the deceased has died. Under French law, e. g., this is a right very similar or even identical to that of an heir. Under German law, the legacy creates an obligation of the heir to provide the legacy to the legatee. 8225/0 BS/ms 3

4 (j) die Ausgleichung und Anrechnung unentgeltlicher Zuwendungen bei der Bestimmung der Anteile von Erben, Pflichtteilsberechtigten oder Vermächtnisnehmern; "(j) any obligation to restore or account for gifts and the taking of them into account when determining the shares of heirs, persons entitled to reserve portions or legatees;" C. Some drafting remarks on Articles 6 and 7 In our view, the principle that one law should govern the succession as a whole, wherever the assets are located, could best we dealt with in Article 9(). In that case, the drafting of Articles 6 and 7 could be simplified: Artikel 6 Allgemeine Kollisionsnorm Sofern diese Verordnung nichts anderes bestimmt, unterliegt die ( ) Rechtsnachfolge von Todes wegen ( ) dem Recht des Staates, in dem der Erblasser im Zeitpunkt seines Todes seinen gewöhnlichen Aufenthalt hatte. Article 6 General rule Unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation, (...) the succession to the estate of a deceased person (...) shall be governed by the law of the State in which the deceased person had his habitual residence at the time of death. 8225/0 BS/ms 4

5 for a shorter text for Article 7 (no change in substance is intended): Artikel 7 Rechtswahl. Der Erblasser kann durch ausdrückliche Erklärung in der Form einer Verfügung von Todes wegen die Rechtsnachfolge von Todes wegen dem Recht eines Staates unterwerfen, dessen Staatsangehörigkeit er im Zeitpunkt der Rechtswahl besitzt. Die materielle Wirksamkeit der Rechtswahl unterliegt dem gewählten Recht. 2. Absatz gilt entsprechend für die Änderung oder den Widerruf der Rechtswahl. Artikel 7 Choice of law. By means of an express declaration in the form of a disposition of property upon death, the testator may make his succession subject to the law of the State whose nationality he possesses at the time of the choice of law. The substantive validity of the choice of law shall be governed by the law chosen. 2. Paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to a modification or revocation of the choice of law. 8225/0 BS/ms 5