http://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2014/655/chapter/2Regulation (EU) No 655/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 establishing a European Account Preservation Order procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial mattersRegulation (EU) No 655/2014 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilRegulation (EU) No 655/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 establishing a European Account Preservation Order procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters2020-12-09King's Printer of Acts of Parliamenthttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/eu-exit/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014R0655texttext/xmlen2014-05-15 CHAPTER 2 <Strong>PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A PRESERVATION ORDER</Strong> Availability Article 5 The Preservation Order shall be available to the creditor in the following situations: before the creditor initiates proceedings in a Member State against the debtor on the substance of the matter, or at any stage during such proceedings up until the issuing of the judgment or the approval or conclusion of a court settlement; after the creditor has obtained in a Member State a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument which requires the debtor to pay the creditor’s claim. Jurisdiction Article 6 1 Where the creditor has not yet obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, jurisdiction to issue a Preservation Order shall lie with the courts of the Member State which have jurisdiction to rule on the substance of the matter in accordance with the relevant rules of jurisdiction applicable. 2 Notwithstanding paragraph 1, where the debtor is a consumer who has concluded a contract with the creditor for a purpose which can be regarded as being outside the debtor’s trade or profession, jurisdiction to issue a Preservation Order intended to secure a claim relating to that contract shall lie only with the courts of the Member State in which the debtor is domiciled. 3 Where the creditor has already obtained a judgment or court settlement, jurisdiction to issue a Preservation Order for the claim specified in the judgment or court settlement shall lie with the courts of the Member State in which the judgment was issued or the court settlement was approved or concluded. 4 Where the creditor has obtained an authentic instrument, jurisdiction to issue a Preservation Order for the claim specified in that instrument shall lie with the courts designated for that purpose in the Member State in which that instrument was drawn up. Conditions for issuing a Preservation Order Article 7 1 The court shall issue the Preservation Order when the creditor has submitted sufficient evidence to satisfy the court that there is an urgent need for a protective measure in the form of a Preservation Order because there is a real risk that, without such a measure, the subsequent enforcement of the creditor’s claim against the debtor will be impeded or made substantially more difficult. 2 Where the creditor has not yet obtained in a Member State a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument requiring the debtor to pay the creditor’s claim, the creditor shall also submit sufficient evidence to satisfy the court that he is likely to succeed on the substance of his claim against the debtor. Application for a Preservation Order Article 8 1 Applications for a Preservation Order shall be lodged using the form established in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 52(2). 2 The application shall include the following information: a the name and address of the court with which the application is lodged; b details concerning the creditor: name and contact details and, where applicable, name and contact details of the creditor’s representative, and: where the creditor is a natural person, his date of birth and, if applicable and available, his identification or passport number; or where the creditor is a legal person or any other entity having legal capacity to sue or be sued under the law of a Member State, the State of its incorporation, formation or registration and its identification or registration number or, where no such number exists, the date and place of its incorporation, formation or registration; c details concerning the debtor: name and contact details and, where applicable, name and contact details of the debtor’s representative and, if available: where the debtor is a natural person, his date of birth and identification or passport number; or where the debtor is a legal person or any other entity having legal capacity to sue or be sued under the law of a Member State, the State of its incorporation, formation or registration and its identification or registration number or, where no such number exists, the date and place of its incorporation, formation or registration; d a number enabling the identification of the bank, such as the IBAN or BIC and/or the name and address of the bank, with which the debtor holds one or more accounts to be preserved; e if available, the number of the account or accounts to be preserved and, in such a case, an indication as to whether any other accounts held by the debtor with the same bank should be preserved; f where none of the information required under point (d) can be provided, a statement that a request is made for the obtaining of account information pursuant to Article 14, where such a request is possible, and a substantiation as to why the creditor believes that the debtor holds one or more accounts with a bank in a specific Member State; g the amount for which the Preservation Order is sought: where the creditor has not yet obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the amount of the principal claim or part thereof and of any interest recoverable pursuant to Article 15; where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the amount of the principal claim as specified in the judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument or part thereof and of any interest and costs recoverable pursuant to Article 15; h where the creditor has not yet obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument: a description of all relevant elements supporting the jurisdiction of the court with which the application for the Preservation Order is lodged; a description of all relevant circumstances invoked as the basis of the claim, and, where applicable, of the interest claimed; a statement indicating whether the creditor has already initiated proceedings against the debtor on the substance of the matter; i where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, a declaration that the judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument has not yet been complied with or, where it has been complied with in part, an indication of the extent of non-compliance; j a description of all relevant circumstances justifying the issuing of the Preservation Order as required by Article 7(1); k where applicable, an indication of the reasons why the creditor believes he should be exempted from providing security pursuant to Article 12; l a list of the evidence provided by the creditor; m a declaration as provided for in Article 16 as to whether the creditor has lodged with other courts or authorities an application for an equivalent national order or whether such an order has already been obtained or refused and, if obtained, the extent to which it has been implemented; n an optional indication of the creditor’s bank account to be used for any voluntary payment of the claim by the debtor; o a declaration that the information provided by the creditor in the application is true and complete to the best of his knowledge and that the creditor is aware that any deliberately false or incomplete statements may lead to legal consequences under the law of the Member State in which the application is lodged or to liability pursuant to Article 13. 3 The application shall be accompanied by all relevant supporting documents and, where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, by a copy of the judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument which satisfies the conditions necessary to establish its authenticity. 4 The application and supporting documents may be submitted by any means of communication, including electronic, which are accepted under the procedural rules of the Member State in which the application is lodged. Taking of evidence Article 9 1 The court shall take its decision by means of a written procedure on the basis of the information and evidence provided by the creditor in or with his application. If the court considers that the evidence provided is insufficient, it may, where national law so allows, request the creditor to provide additional documentary evidence. 2 Notwithstanding paragraph 1 and subject to Article 11, the court may, provided that this does not delay the proceedings unduly, also use any other appropriate method of taking evidence available under its national law, such as an oral hearing of the creditor or of his witness(es) including through videoconference or other communication technology. Initiation of proceedings on the substance of the matter Article 10 1 Where the creditor has applied for a Preservation Order before initiating proceedings on the substance of the matter, he shall initiate such proceedings and provide proof of such initiation to the court with which the application for the Preservation Order was lodged within 30 days of the date on which he lodged the application or within 14 days of the date of the issue of the Order, whichever date is the later. The court may also, at the request of the debtor, extend that time period, for example in order to allow the parties to settle the claim, and shall inform the two parties accordingly. 2 If the court has not received proof of the initiation of proceedings within the time period referred to in paragraph 1, the Preservation Order shall be revoked or shall terminate and the parties shall be informed accordingly. Where the court that issued the Order is located in the Member State of enforcement, the revocation or termination of the Order in that Member State shall be done in accordance with the law of that Member State. Where the revocation or termination needs to be implemented in a Member State other than the Member State of origin, the court shall revoke the Preservation Order by using the revocation form established by means of implementing acts adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 52(2), and shall transmit the revocation form in accordance with Article 29 to the competent authority of the Member State of enforcement. That authority shall take the necessary steps by applying Article 23 as appropriate to have the revocation or termination implemented. 3 For the purposes of paragraph 1, proceedings on the substance of the matter shall be deemed to have been initiated: a at the time when the document instituting the proceedings or an equivalent document is lodged with the court, provided that the creditor has not subsequently failed to take the steps he was required to take to have service effected on the debtor; or b if the document has to be served before being lodged with the court, at the time when it is received by the authority responsible for service, provided that the creditor has not subsequently failed to take the steps he was required to take to have the document lodged with the court. The authority responsible for service referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be the first authority receiving the documents to be served. Ex parte procedure Article 11 The debtor shall not be notified of the application for a Preservation Order or be heard prior to the issuing of the Order. Security to be provided by the creditor Article 12 1 Before issuing a Preservation Order in a case where the creditor has not yet obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the court shall require the creditor to provide security for an amount sufficient to prevent abuse of the procedure provided for by this Regulation and to ensure compensation for any damage suffered by the debtor as a result of the Order to the extent that the creditor is liable for such damage pursuant to Article 13. By way of exception, the court may dispense with the requirement set out in the first subparagraph if it considers that the provision of security referred to in that subparagraph is inappropriate in the circumstances of the case. 2 Where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the court may, before issuing the Order, require the creditor to provide security as referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 if it considers this necessary and appropriate in the circumstances of the case. 3 If the court requires security to be provided pursuant to this Article, it shall inform the creditor of the amount required and of the forms of security acceptable under the law of the Member State in which the court is located. It shall indicate to the creditor that it will issue the Preservation Order once security in accordance with those requirements has been provided. Liability of the creditor Article 13 1 The creditor shall be liable for any damage caused to the debtor by the Preservation Order due to fault on the creditor’s part. The burden of proof shall lie with the debtor. 2 In the following cases, the fault of the creditor shall be presumed unless he proves otherwise: a if the Order is revoked because the creditor has failed to initiate proceedings on the substance of the matter, unless that omission was a consequence of the debtor’s payment of the claim or another form for settlement between the parties; b if the creditor has failed to request the release of over-preserved amounts as provided for in Article 27; c if it is subsequently found that the issue of the Order was not appropriate or appropriate only in a lower amount due to a failure on the part of the creditor to comply with his obligations under Article 16; or d if the Order is revoked or its enforcement terminated because the creditor has failed to comply with his obligations under this Regulation with regard to service or translation of documents or with regard to curing the lack of service or the lack of translation. 3 Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may maintain or introduce in their national law other grounds or types of liability or rules on the burden of proof. All other aspects relating to the creditor’s liability towards the debtor not specifically addressed in paragraph 1 or 2 shall be governed by national law. 4 The law applicable to the liability of the creditor shall be the law of the Member State of enforcement. If accounts are preserved in more than one Member State, the law applicable to the liability of the creditor shall be the law of the Member State of enforcement: a in which the debtor has his habitual residence as defined in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 864/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council, or, failing that, b which has the closest connection with the case. 5 This Article does not deal with the question of possible liability of the creditor towards the bank or any third party. Request for the obtaining of account information Article 14 1 Where the creditor has obtained in a Member State an enforceable judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument which requires the debtor to pay the creditor’s claim and the creditor has reasons to believe that the debtor holds one or more accounts with a bank in a specific Member State, but knows neither the name and/or address of the bank nor the IBAN, BIC or another bank number allowing the bank to be identified, he may request the court with which the application for the Preservation Order is lodged to request that the information authority of the Member State of enforcement obtain the information necessary to allow the bank or banks and the debtor’s account or accounts to be identified. Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, the creditor may make the request referred to in that subparagraph where the judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument obtained by the creditor is not yet enforceable and the amount to be preserved is substantial taking into account the relevant circumstances, and the creditor has submitted sufficient evidence to satisfy the court that there is an urgent need for account information because there is a risk that, without such information, the subsequent enforcement of the creditor’s claim against the debtor is likely to be jeopardised and that this could consequently lead to a substantial deterioration of the creditor’s financial situation. 2 The creditor shall make the request referred to in paragraph 1 in the application for the Preservation Order. The creditor shall substantiate why he believes that the debtor holds one or more accounts with a bank in the specific Member State and shall provide all relevant information available to him about the debtor and the account or accounts to be preserved. If the court with which the application for a Preservation Order is lodged considers that the creditor’s request is not sufficiently substantiated, it shall reject it. 3 When the court is satisfied that the creditor’s request is well substantiated and that all the conditions and requirements for issuing the Preservation Order are met, except for the information requirement set out in point (d) of Article 8(2) and, where applicable, the security requirement pursuant to Article 12, the court shall transmit the request for information to the information authority of the Member State of enforcement in accordance with Article 29. 4 To obtain the information referred to in paragraph 1, the information authority in the Member State of enforcement shall use one of the methods available in that Member State pursuant to paragraph 5. 5 Each Member State shall make available in its national law at least one of the following methods of obtaining the information referred to in paragraph 1: a an obligation on all banks in its territory to disclose, upon request by the information authority, whether the debtor holds an account with them; b access for the information authority to the relevant information where that information is held by public authorities or administrations in registers or otherwise; c the possibility for its courts to oblige the debtor to disclose with which bank or banks in its territory he holds one or more accounts where such an obligation is accompanied by an in personam order by the court prohibiting the withdrawal or transfer by him of funds held in his account or accounts up to the amount to be preserved by the Preservation Order; or d any other methods which are effective and efficient for the purposes of obtaining the relevant information, provided that they are not disproportionately costly or time-consuming. Irrespective of the method or methods made available by a Member State, all authorities involved in obtaining the information shall act expeditiously. 6 As soon as the information authority of the Member State of enforcement has obtained the account information, it shall transmit it to the requesting court in accordance with Article 29. 7 If the information authority is unable to obtain the information referred to in paragraph 1, it shall inform the requesting court accordingly. Where, as a result of the unavailability of account information, the application for a Preservation Order is rejected in full, the requesting court shall without delay release any security that the creditor may have provided pursuant to Article 12. 8 Where under this Article the information authority is provided with information by a bank or is granted access to account information held by public authorities or administrations in registers, the notification of the debtor of the disclosure of his personal data shall be deferred for 30 days, in order to prevent an early notification from jeopardising the effect of the Preservation Order. Interest and costs Article 15 1 At the request of the creditor, the Preservation Order shall include any interest accrued under the law applicable to the claim up to the date when the Order is issued, provided that the amount or type of interest is not such that its inclusion constitutes a violation of overriding mandatory provisions in the law of the Member State of origin. 2 Where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the Preservation Order shall, at the request of the creditor, also include the costs of obtaining such judgment, settlement or instrument, to the extent that a determination has been made that those costs must be borne by the debtor. Parallel applications Article 16 1 The creditor may not submit to several courts at the same time parallel applications for a Preservation Order against the same debtor aimed at securing the same claim. 2 In his application for a Preservation Order, the creditor shall declare whether he has lodged with any other court or authority an application for an equivalent national order against the same debtor and aimed at securing the same claim or has already obtained such an order. He shall also indicate any applications for such an order which have been rejected as inadmissible or unfounded. 3 If the creditor obtains an equivalent national order against the same debtor and aimed at securing the same claim during the proceedings for the issuing of a Preservation Order, he shall without delay inform the court thereof and of any subsequent implementation of the national order granted. He shall also inform the court of any applications for an equivalent national order which have been rejected as inadmissible or unfounded. 4 Where the court is informed that the creditor has already obtained an equivalent national order, it shall consider, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, whether it is still appropriate to issue the Preservation Order, in full or in part. Decision on the application for the Preservation Order Article 17 1 The court seised of an application for a Preservation Order shall examine whether the conditions and requirements set out in this Regulation are met. 2 The court shall decide on the application without delay, but no later than by the expiry of the time-limits set out in Article 18. 3 Where the creditor has not provided all the information required by Article 8, the court may, unless the application is clearly inadmissible or unfounded, give the creditor the opportunity to complete or rectify the application within a period of time to be specified by the court. If the creditor fails to complete or rectify the application within that period, the application shall be rejected. 4 The Preservation Order shall be issued in the amount justified by the evidence referred to in Article 9 and as determined by the law applicable to the underlying claim, and shall include, where appropriate, interest and/or costs pursuant to Article 15. The Order may not under any circumstances be issued in an amount exceeding the amount indicated by the creditor in his application. 5 The decision on the application shall be brought to the notice of the creditor in accordance with the procedure provided for by the law of the Member State of origin for equivalent national orders. Time-limits for the decision on the application for a Preservation Order Article 18 1 Where the creditor has not yet obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the court shall issue its decision by the end of the tenth working day after the creditor lodged or, where applicable, completed his application. 2 Where the creditor has already obtained a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument, the court shall issue its decision by the end of the fifth working day after the creditor lodged or, where applicable, completed his application. 3 Where the court determines pursuant to Article 9(2) that an oral hearing of the creditor and, as the case may be, his witness(es) is necessary, the court shall hold the hearing without delay and shall issue its decision by the end of the fifth working day after the hearing has taken place. 4 In the situations referred to in Article 12, the time-limits set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article shall apply to the decision requiring the creditor to provide security. The court shall issue its decision on the application for a Preservation Order without delay once the creditor has provided the security required. 5 Notwithstanding paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, in situations referred to in Article 14, the court shall issue its decision without delay once it has received the information referred to in Article 14(6) or (7), provided that any security required has been provided by the creditor by that time. Form and content of the Preservation Order Article 19 1 The Preservation Order shall be issued using the form established by means of implementing acts adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 52(2) and shall bear a stamp, a signature and/or any other authentication of the court. The form shall consist of two parts: a part A, containing the information set out in paragraph 2 to be provided to the bank, the creditor and the debtor; and b part B, containing the information set out in paragraph 3 to be provided to the creditor and the debtor in addition to the information pursuant to paragraph 2. 2 Part A shall include the following information: a the name and address of the court and the file number of the case; b details of the creditor as indicated in point (b) of Article 8(2); c details of the debtor as indicated in point (c) of Article 8(2); d the name and address of the bank concerned by the Order; e if the creditor has provided the account number of the debtor in the application, the number of the account or accounts to be preserved, and, where applicable, an indication as to whether any other accounts held by the debtor with the same bank also have to be preserved; f where applicable, an indication that the number of any account to be preserved was obtained by means of a request pursuant to Article 14 and that the bank, where necessary pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 24(4), is to obtain the number or numbers concerned from the information authority of the Member State of enforcement; g the amount to be preserved by the Order; h an instruction to the bank to implement the Order in accordance with Article 24; i the date of issue of the Order; j if the creditor has indicated an account in his application pursuant to point (n) of Article 8(2), an authorisation to the bank pursuant to Article 24(3) to release and transfer, if so requested by the debtor and if allowed by the law of the Member State of enforcement, funds up to the amount specified in the Order from the preserved account to the account that the creditor has indicated in his application; k information on where to find the electronic version of the form to be used for the declaration pursuant to Article 25. 3 Part B shall include the following information: a a description of the subject matter of the case and the court’s reasoning for issuing the Order; b the amount of the security provided by the creditor, if any; c where applicable, the time-limit for initiating the proceedings on the substance of the matter and for proving such initiation to the issuing court; d where applicable, an indication as to which documents must be translated pursuant to the second sentence of Article 49(1); e where applicable, an indication that the creditor is responsible for initiating the enforcement of the Order and consequently, where applicable, an indication that the creditor is responsible for transmitting it to the competent authority of the Member State of enforcement pursuant to Article 23(3) and for initiating service on the debtor pursuant to Article 28(2), (3) and (4); and f information about the remedies available to the debtor. 4 Where the Preservation Order concerns accounts in different banks, a separate form (part A pursuant to paragraph 2) shall be filled in for each bank. In such a case, the form provided to the creditor and the debtor (parts A and B pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 respectively) shall contain a list of all banks concerned. Duration of the preservation Article 20 The funds preserved by the Preservation Order shall remain preserved as provided for in the Order or in any subsequent modification or limitation of that Order pursuant to Chapter 4: until the Order is revoked; until the enforcement of the Order is terminated; or until a measure to enforce a judgment, court settlement or authentic instrument obtained by the creditor relating to the claim which the Preservation Order was aimed at securing has taken effect with respect to the funds preserved by the Order. Appeal against a refusal to issue the Preservation Order Article 21 1 The creditor shall have the right to appeal against any decision of the court rejecting, wholly or in part, his application for a Preservation Order. 2 Such an appeal shall be lodged within 30 days of the date on which the decision referred to in paragraph 1 was brought to the notice of the creditor. It shall be lodged with the court which the Member State concerned has communicated to the Commission pursuant to point (d) of Article 50(1). 3 Where the application for the Preservation Order was rejected in whole, the appeal shall be dealt with in ex parte proceedings as provided for in Article 11. Regulation (EC) No 864/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (Rome II) (OJ L 199, 31.7.2007, p. 40).