Brussels II

Brussels II is a European Union Convention on conflict of law issues in family law between member states; in particular those related to divorce, child custody and international child abduction. It was passed with Convention Council Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 of 29 May 2000 on the jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for joint children.

The original Brussels II was subsequently replaced with new legislation which came into force on 1 August 2004 and applies from 1 March 2005 by Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000. The revised Brussels II legislation is variously referred to as Brussels II bis or B, or Brussels IIA, or the new Brussels II.

The new Brussels II substantially repeals the old Brussels II so far as divorce and other matrimonial matters are concerned.