European UnionA domestic violence order from one EU country - is it enforceable in another?
Yes, a domestic violence protection order issued in one EU country is generally enforceable in another EU country under Regulation (EU) No 606/2013.
What the Law Says
The EU has established a harmonised framework to ensure that protection orders in cases of domestic violence issued in one Member State are swiftly recognised and enforced in another.
Regulation (EU) No 606/2013 on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters applies to protection measures issued to protect victims of domestic violence. It covers orders issued by judicial or administrative authorities that prohibit the perpetrator from approaching, contacting, or communicating with the victim — including orders restricting access to shared residences.
The regulation ensures automatic recognition: a protection measure issued in one EU country must be recognised in another without any special procedure or review of its substance. The enforcing Member State may only refuse recognition in strictly limited circumstances — for example, if the measure conflicts with public policy or was issued without giving the respondent a fair opportunity to be heard.
Once an application for enforcement is submitted, the competent authority in the enforcing state must decide on recognition within 10 days. Enforcement must be free of charge for the applicant.
Statutory TextA protection measure issued in a Member State shall be recognised in the other Member States without any special procedure being required.
— Regulation (EU) No 606/2013, Art. 5(1)
Statutory TextThe court or authority of the issuing Member State shall issue a certificate… which shall be accompanied by a standard form set out in Annex I.
— Regulation (EU) No 606/2013, Art. 8(1)
Statutory TextThe court or authority of the enforcing Member State shall decide on the application for recognition and enforcement within 10 days of receipt.
— Regulation (EU) No 606/2013, Art. 12(1)
What Courts Have Said
EU courts have affirmed the direct effect and mandatory nature of Regulation 606/2013, stressing its purpose of protecting victims without delay.
The CJEU held that national courts must interpret domestic law in conformity with Regulation 606/2013 and cannot impose additional conditions — such as requiring translation of the full order — where the certified standard form (Annex I) is provided.
The Court ruled that refusal of recognition is permissible only where there is a manifest breach of fundamental rights — not merely procedural irregularities — and reaffirmed that the 10-day deadline under Article 12 is binding.
What to Do
Obtain the official EU standard certificate (Annex I form) from the issuing court or authority in the original Member State.
Submit the certificate and a certified translation of it (if required by the enforcing country’s rules) to the competent authority — usually a local court or central authority — in the country where enforcement is sought.
Request urgent handling: the authority must decide within 10 days and cannot charge fees.
If recognition is refused, ask for written reasons and consider appealing — grounds for refusal are strictly limited under the Regulation.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.