The Marburg Group's Comments on the European Commission's Parenthood Proposal

On 7 December 2022, the European Commission published a Proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and on the creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood (Parenthood Proposal). In this book, the Marburg Group-- a group of German private international law scholars-- undertakes the first extensive and in-depth assessment of the Parenthood Proposal. While the Group welcomes the initiative of the Commission and embraces the overall structure of the Parenthood Proposal, it suggests several fundamental changes. The Commission proposes common rules for the Member States in the domain of parenthood, addressing the classic issues of private international law: jurisdiction in parenthood matters, the applicable law to parenthood and the recognition of court decisions in matters of parenthood. Furthermore, the Commission recommends the introduction of a European Certificate of Parenthood, enabling European citizens to prove a parenthood position throughout the European Union, with uniform effects.