Digitalising European Uncontested Claims Enforcement: DEUCE

Programme(s): Justice Programme (JUST)

Topic(s): JUST-2023-JCOO

Type of action: JUST Lump Sum Grants

Project ID: 101138437

Objective: The DEUCE Project aims at better enforcement of judicial decisions (judgments, authentic instruments, and court settlements) issued in the context of cross-border pecuniary claims. It particularly focuses on the creation of a Roadmap of the 26 EU Member States’ (MSs) enforcement rules and the simplification and digitalisation of the enforcement procedures. As regards the first objective, the existing lack of harmonization of enforcement rules of MSs signifies a major weakness of the cross-enforcement of the EEO and EOP judgments, making it difficult for creditors (as the end-users) and lawyers and bailiffs (as the operators) to be aware of the existence and practical functioning of different EU enforcement rules. With respect to simplifying and digitalising the EEO and EOP enforcement procedures – based on a needs assessment approach and the importance of establishing a fully tech-driven mechanism for promoting citizens’ access to justice – the DEUCE Project develops an IT platform and a blockchain system to fill the existing gap in the EEO and EOP enforcement across the Union. Embracing a combination of theoretical and practical driven approaches, a Consortium of experts in international civil procedural law/private law and information technology will work in close joint collaboration to a) pursue clarity in analysing the existing enforcement rules by creating a roadmap for these rules; b) establish an IT platform providing effective guidance on the EU enforcement rules concerning the EEO and EOP judgments; and c) develop a blockchain system for promoting the enforcement procedures. The DEUCE project consortium will significantly contribute to validating the final project outcomes in a comprehensive roadmap of all 26 MSs, and an analytical-comparative-study of best practices on the enforcement rules of EEO and EOP judgments. The project will involve over 200 end-users, 200 lawyers, 200 bailiffs, 100 notaries, 26 consumer associations and at least 5 policymakers.