Edited by Apostolos Anthimos, Attorney at law, Thessaloniki Bar, Greece and Marta Requejo Isidro, Professor of Private International Law, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain and Legal Secretary, Court of Justice of the European Union

• Contents:The European Service Regulation: Introduction 1Andreas SteinCHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS1 Scope 27Apostolos Anthimos2 Definitions 59Elena Alina Onţanu3 Transmitting and receiving agencies 64Marta Requejo Isidro4 Central body 68Marta Requejo Isidro5 Means of communication to be used by transmitting agencies, receiving agencies and central bodies 71Marta Requejo Isidro6 Legal effects of electronic documents 76Burkhard Hess7 Assistance in address enquiries 79Burkhard HessCHAPTER II JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS8 Transmission of documents 86Michael Stürner9 Translation of documents 93Gilles Cuniberti10 Receipt of documents by receiving agency 96Michael Stürner11 Service of documents 101Michael Stürner12 Refusal to accept a document 105Gilles Cuniberti13 Date of service 120Vincent Richard14 Certificate of service and copy of the document served 129Stefano Dominelli15 Costs of service 143Stefano Dominelli16 Transmission by diplomatic or consular channels 156Christian Koller17 Service by diplomatic agents or consular officers 160Kevin Labner18 Service by postal services 168Vincent Richard19 Electronic service 177Apostolos Anthimos20 Direct service 191Pietro FranzinaCHAPTER III EXTRAJUDICIAL DOCUMENTS21 Transmission and service of extrajudicial documents 198Pietro FranzinaCHAPTER IV FINAL PROVISIONS22 Defendant not entering an appearance 205Apostolos Anthimos23 Amendment of Annex I 236Apostolos Anthimos24 Exercise of the delegation 239Apostolos Anthimos25 Adoption of implementing acts by the Commission 243Apostolos Anthimos26 Committee procedure 246Apostolos Anthimos27 Reference implementation software 249Elena Alina Onţanu28 Costs of the decentralised IT system 255Elena Alina Onţanu29 Relationship with agreements or arrangements between Member States 260Apostolos Anthimos30 Legal aid 265Apostolos Anthimos31 Protection of information transmitted 267Alexandros Ioannis Kargopoulos32 Respect for fundamental rights under Union law 286Alexandros Ioannis Kargopoulos33 Communication, publication and manual 299Apostolos Anthimos34 Monitoring 302Apostolos Anthimos35 Evaluation 306Apostolos Anthimos36 Repeal 309Apostolos Anthimos37 Entry into force and application 311Apostolos AnthimosBibliography 313Index

‘Written clearly and concisely, this is an in-depth and highly up-to-date analysis of the cross-border service of documents system in the EU. A truly European Commentary based on a comparative approach; crucial reading for anyone involved in, or interested in, this important area of international private law - practitioners, judges, court staff and legal scholars alike.’