European UnionI have a court judgment from Germany ordering payment. Can I enforce it in Spain without new proceedings?
Yes, you can enforce a German court judgment in Spain without new proceedings, thanks to EU Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 (Brussels I bis), which provides for automatic recognition and simplified enforcement across EU Member States.
What the Law Says
EU Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 — known as Brussels I bis — governs jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters between EU Member States. It eliminates the need for exequatur (a separate recognition proceeding) for judgments given in other EU countries.
Under this Regulation, a judgment issued in one EU Member State (e.g., Germany) is automatically recognised in another (e.g., Spain) without any special procedure. Enforcement requires only a standardised application and a certified copy of the judgment with a standard form (Form A, Annex I).
The Spanish court may refuse enforcement only on narrow, exhaustively listed grounds — such as violation of public policy, lack of proper service, or irreconcilability with a prior judgment — but it cannot reassess the merits of the case.
The debtor has one month from service of the enforcement order to appeal on limited procedural grounds. If no appeal is lodged, enforcement proceeds immediately.
Statutory TextA judgment given in a Member State shall be recognised in the other Member States without any special procedure being required.
— Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, Art. 36 — Recognition
Statutory TextThe judgment shall be enforced in accordance with the procedure laid down in the law of the Member State addressed, without any review of its substance.
— Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, Art. 41(1) — Enforcement
What to Do
Obtain a certified copy of the German judgment and a standard Form A (Annex I to Regulation 1215/2012) completed by the German court.
Submit the documents to the competent Spanish court — typically the Juzgado de Primera Instancia where the debtor resides or has assets.
The Spanish court issues an enforcement order (auto de ejecución) within days; the debtor may appeal within one month on strictly limited grounds.
If unchallenged or upheld on appeal, proceed with enforcement measures (e.g., asset seizure, wage garnishment) under Spanish procedural law.
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.