The growth of international trade and travel increases the likelihood that a company or individual will one day be involved in a dispute with an international aspect (foreign element). This international aspect may be due to the fact that the parties are of different nationalities, or that they do not reside in the same country, or that they have entered into a contract relating to a transaction taking place abroad.
In the event of a dispute, it is not enough to determine which court has international jurisdiction to hear the case; it is also necessary to determine the law applicable to the merits of the case.
Finally, if foreign law is applicable to a case, its content must be determined with as much legal certainty as possible.
The European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters (EJN-civil) can also help courts and judicial authorities to find the content of foreign law, thanks to the information on national law provided in the EJN-civil factsheets or the assistance of the EJN-civil contact points.
