On 31 May 2023, the European Commission proposed new rules aimed at better guaranteeing the rights of adults in need of protection or support in cross-border situations. The Commission presented a Proposal for a Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of measures and cooperation in matters relating to the protection of adults and a Proposal for a Council decision authorising Member States to become or remain parties, in the interest of the European Union, to the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults to this end.

ELI is pleased to see that the European Commission’s Proposals to a large extent reflect the suggestions made in the 2020 ELI Report on the Protection of Adults in International Situations, available here. ELI also notes that both Proposals expressly refer to the 2020 ELI Report in their explanatory memoranda. The ELI Report included proposals regarding such protection as well as further issues surrounding the application of the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults. It also included a private mandate checklist for practitioners.

ELI is committed to contributing to the discourse in this field, including in the framework of ELI’s new project on Advance Choices for Future Disablement and Response to the European Commission's Public Consultation on the Initiative on the Cross-Border Protection of Vulnerable Adults.