EUR-Lex - 31998R0974 - EN Avis juridique important | 31998R0974 Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro Official Journal L 139 , 11/05/1998 P. 0001 - 0005 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 109l(4), third sentence thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),Having regard to the opinion of the European Monetary Institute (2),Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3),(1) Whereas this Regulation defines monetary law provisions of the Member States which have adopted the euro; whereas provisions on continuity of contracts, the replacement of references to the ecu in legal instruments by references to the euro and rounding have already been laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro (4); whereas the introduction of the euro concerns day-to-day operations of the whole population in participating Member States; whereas measures other than those in this Regulation and in Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 should be examined to ensure a balanced changeover, in particular for consumers;(2) Whereas, at the meeting of the European Council in Madrid on 15 and 16 December 1995, the decision was taken that the term 'ecu` used by the Treaty to refer to the European currency unit is a generic term; whereas the Governments of the 15 Member States have reached the common agreement that this decision is the agreed and definitive interpretation of the relevant Treaty provisions; whereas the name given to the European currency shall be the 'euro`; whereas the euro as the currency of the participating Member States shall be divided into one hundred sub-units with the name 'cent`; whereas the definition of the name 'cent` does not prevent the use of variants of this term in common usage in the Member States; whereas the European Council furthermore considered that the name of the single currency must be the same in all the official languages of the European Union, taking into account the existence of different alphabets;(3) Whereas the Council when acting in accordance with the third sentence of Article 109l(4) of the Treaty shall take the measures necessary for the rapid introduction of the euro other than the adoption of the conversion rates;(4) Whereas whenever under Article 109k(2) of the Treaty a Member State becomes a participating Member State, the Council shall according to Article 109l(5) of the Treaty take the other measures necessary for the rapid introduction of the euro as the single currency of this Member State;(5) Whereas according to the first sentence of Article 109l(4) of the Treaty the Council shall at the starting date of the third stage adopt the conversion rates at which the currencies of the participating Member States shall be irrevocably fixed and at which irrevocably fixed rate the euro shall be substituted for these currencies;(6) Whereas given the absence of exchange rate risk either between the euro unit and the national currency units or between these national currency units, legislative provisions should be interpreted accordingly;(7) Whereas the term 'contract` used for the definition of legal instruments is meant to include all types of contracts, irrespective of the way in which they are concluded;(8) Whereas in order to prepare a smooth changeover to the euro a transitional period is needed between the substitution of the euro for the currencies of the participating Member States and the introduction of euro banknotes and coins; whereas during this period the national currency units will be defined as sub-divisions of the euro; whereas thereby a legal equivalence is established between the euro unit and the national currency units;(9) Whereas in accordance with Article 109g of the Treaty and with Regulation (EC) No 1103/97, the euro will replace the ECU as from 1 January 1999 as the unit of account of the institutions of the European Communities; whereas the euro should also be the unit of account of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the central banks of the participating Member States; whereas, in line with the Madrid conclusions, monetary policy operations will be carried out in the euro unit by the European System of Central Banks (ESCB); whereas this does not prevent national central banks from keeping accounts in their national currency unit during the transitional period, in particular for their staff and for public administrations;(10) Whereas each participating Member State may allow the full use of the euro unit in its territory during the transitional period;(11) Whereas during the transitional period contracts, national laws and other legal instruments can be drawn up validly in the euro unit or in the national currency unit; whereas during this period, nothing in this Regulation should affect the validity of any reference to a national currency unit in any legal instrument;(12) Whereas, unless agreed otherwise, economic agents have to respect the denomination of a legal instrument in the performance of all acts to be carried out under that instrument;(13) Whereas the euro unit and the national currency units are units of the same currency; whereas it should be ensured that payments inside a participating Member State by crediting an account can be made either in the euro unit or the respective national currency unit; whereas the provisions on payments by crediting an account should also apply to those cross-border payments, which are denominated in the euro unit or the national currency unit of the account of the creditor; whereas it is necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of payment systems by laying down provisions dealing with the crediting of accounts by payment instruments credited through those systems; whereas the provisions on payments by crediting an account should not imply that financial intermediaries are obliged to make available either other payment facilities or products denominated in any particular unit of the euro; whereas the provisions on payments by crediting an account do not prohibit financial intermediaries from coordinating the introduction of payment facilities denominated in the euro unit which rely on a common technical infrastructure during the transitional period;(14) Whereas in accordance with the conclusions reached by the European Council at its meeting held in Madrid, new tradeable public debt will be issued in the euro unit by the participating Member States as from 1 January 1999; whereas it is desirable to allow issuers of debt to redenominate outstanding debt in the euro unit; whereas the provisions on redenomination should be such that they can also be applied in the jurisdictions of third countries; whereas issuers should be enabled to redenominate outstanding debt if the debt is denominated in a national currency unit of a Member State which has redenominated part or all of the outstanding debt of its general government; whereas these provisions do not address the introduction of additional measures to amend the terms of outstanding debt to alter, among other things, the nominal amount of outstanding debt, these being matters subject to relevant national law; whereas it is desirable to allow Member States to take appropriate measures for changing the unit of account of the operating procedures of organised markets;(15) Whereas further action at the Community level may also be necessary to clarify the effect of the introduction of the euro on the application of existing provisions of Community law, in particular concerning netting, set-off and techniques of similar effect;(16) Whereas any obligation to use the euro unit can only be imposed on the basis of Community legislation; whereas in transactions with the public sector participating Member States may allow the use of the euro unit; whereas in accordance with the reference scenario decided by the European Council at its meeting held in Madrid, the Community legislation laying down the time frame for the generalisation of the use of the euro unit might leave some freedom to individual Member States;(17) Whereas in accordance with Article 105a of the Treaty the Council may adopt measures to harmonise the denominations and technical specifications of all coins;(18) Whereas banknotes and coins need adequate protection against counterfeiting;(19) Whereas banknotes and coins denominated in the national currency units lose their status of legal tender at the latest six months after the end of the transitional period; whereas limitations on payments in notes and coins, established by Member States for public reasons, are not incompatible with the status of legal tender of euro banknotes and coins, provided that other lawful means for the settlement of monetary debts are available;(20) Whereas as from the end of the transitional period references in legal instruments existing at the end of the transitional period will have to be read as references to the euro unit according to the respective conversion rates; whereas a physical redenomination of existing legal instruments is therefore not necessary to achieve this result; whereas the rounding rules defined in Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 shall also apply to the conversions to be made at the end of the transitional period or after the transitional period; whereas for reasons of clarity it may be desirable that the physical redenomination will take place as soon as appropriate;(21) Whereas paragraph 2 of Protocol 11 on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stipulates that, inter alia, paragraph 5 of that Protocol shall have effect if the United Kingdom notifies the Council that it does not intend to move to the third stage; whereas the United Kingdom gave notice to the Council on 30 October 1997 that it does not intend to move to the third stage; whereas paragraph 5 stipulates that, inter alia, Article 109l(4) of the Treaty shall not apply to the United Kingdom;(22) Whereas Denmark, referring to paragraph 1 of Protocol 12 on certain provisions relating to Denmark has notified, in the context of the Edinburgh decision of 12 December 1992, that it will not participate in the third stage; whereas, therefore, in accordance with paragraph 2 of the said Protocol, all Articles and provisions of the Treaty and the Statute of the ESCB referring to a derogation shall be applicable to Denmark;(23) Whereas, in accordance with Article 109l(4) of the Treaty, the single currency will be introduced only in the Member States without a derogation;(24) Whereas this Regulation, therefore, shall be applicable pursuant to Article 189 of the Treaty, subject to Protocols 11 and 12 and Article 109k(1),HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:PART I DEFINITIONS Article 1 For the purpose of this Regulation:- 'participating Member States` shall mean Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland,- 'legal instruments` shall mean legislative and statutory provisions, acts of administration, judicial decisions, contracts, unilateral legal acts, payment instruments other than banknotes and coins, and other instruments with legal effect,- 'conversion rate` shall mean the irrevocably fixed conversion rate adopted for the currency of each participating Member State by the Council according to the first sentence of Article 109l(4) of the Treaty,- 'euro unit` shall mean the currency unit as referred to in the second sentence of Article 2,- 'national currency units` shall mean the units of the currencies of participating Member States, as those units are defined on the day before the start of the third stage of economic and monetary union,- 'transitional period` shall mean the period beginning on 1 January 1999 and ending on 31 December 2001,- 'redenominate` shall mean changing the unit in which the amount of outstanding debt is stated from a national currency unit to the euro unit, as defined in Article 2, but which does not have through the act of redenomination the effect of altering any other term of the debt, this being a matter subject to relevant national law.PART II SUBSTITUTION OF THE EURO FOR THE CURRENCIES OF THE PARTICIPATING MEMBER STATES Article 2 As from 1 January 1999 the currency of the participating Member States shall be the euro. The currency unit shall be one euro. One euro shall be divided into one hundred cent.Article 3 The euro shall be substituted for the currency of each participating Member State at the conversion rate.Article 4 The euro shall be the unit of account of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the central banks of the participating Member States.PART III TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS Article 5 Articles 6, 7, 8 and 9 shall apply during the transitional period.Article 6 1. The euro shall also be divided into the national currency units according to the conversion rates. Any subdivision thereof shall be maintained. Subject to the provisions of this Regulation the monetary law of the participating Member States shall continue to apply.2. Where in a legal instrument reference is made to a national currency unit, this reference shall be as valid as if reference were made to the euro unit according to the conversion rates.Article 7 The substitution of the euro for the currency of each participating Member State shall not in itself have the effect of altering the denomination of legal instruments in existence on the date of substitution.Article 8 1. Acts to be performed under legal instruments stipulating the use of or denominated in a national currency unit shall be performed in that national currency unit. Acts to be performed under legal instruments stipulating the use of or denominated in the euro unit shall be performed in that unit.2. The provisions of paragraph 1 are subject to anything which parties may have agreed.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, any amount denominated either in the euro unit or in the national currency unit of a given participating Member State and payable within that Member State by crediting an account of the creditor, can be paid by the debtor either in the euro unit or in that national currency unit. The amount shall be credited to the account of the creditor in the denomination of his account, with any conversion being effected at the conversion rates.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, each participating Member State may take measures which may be necessary in order to:- redenominate in the euro unit outstanding debt issued by that Member State's general government, as defined in the European system of integrated accounts, denominated in its national currency unit and issued under its own law. If a Member State has taken such a measure, issuers may redenominate in the euro unit debt denominated in that Member State's national currency unit unless redenomination is expressly excluded by the terms of the contract; this provision shall apply to debt issued by the general government of a Member State as well as to bonds and other forms of securitised debt negotiable in the capital markets, and to money market instruments, issued by other debtors,- enable the change of the unit of account of their operating procedures from a national currency unit to the euro unit by:(a) markets for the regular exchange, clearing and settlement of any instrument listed in section B of the Annex to Council Directive 93/22/EEC of 10 May 1993 on investment services in the securities field (5) and of commodities; and(b) systems for the regular exchange, clearing and settlement of payments.5. Provisions other than those of paragraph 4 imposing the use of the euro unit may only be adopted by the participating Member States in accordance with any time-frame laid down by Community legislation.6. National legal provisions of participating Member States which permit or impose netting, set-off or techniques with similar effects shall apply to monetary obligations, irrespective of their currency denomination, if that denomination is in the euro unit or in a national currency unit, with any conversion being effected at the conversion rates.Article 9 Banknotes and coins denominated in a national currency unit shall retain their status as legal tender within their territorial limits as of the day before the entry into force of this Regulation.PART IV EURO BANKNOTES AND COINS Article 10 As from 1 January 2002, the ECB and the central banks of the participating Member States shall put into circulation banknotes denominated in euro. Without prejudice to Article 15, these banknotes denominated in euro shall be the only banknotes which have the status of legal tender in all these Member States.Article 11 As from 1 January 2002, the participating Member States shall issue coins denominated in euro or in cent and complying with the denominations and technical specifications which the Council may lay down in accordance with the second sentence of Article 105a(2) of the Treaty. Without prejudice to Article 15, these coins shall be the only coins which have the status of legal tender in all these Member States. Except for the issuing authority and for those persons specifically designated by the national legislation of the issuing Member State, no party shall be obliged to accept more than 50 coins in any single payment.Article 12 Participating Member States shall ensure adequate sanctions against counterfeiting and falsification of euro banknotes and coins.PART V FINAL PROVISIONS Article 13 Articles 14, 15 and 16 shall apply as from the end of the transitional period.Article 14 Where in legal instruments existing at the end of the transitional period reference is made to the national currency units, these references shall be read as references to the euro unit according to the respective conversion rates. The rounding rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 shall apply.Article 15 1. Banknotes and coins denominated in a national currency unit as referred to in Article 6(1) shall remain legal tender within their territorial limits until six months after the end of the transitional period at the latest; this period may be shortened by national law.2. Each participating Member State may, for a period of up to six months after the end of the transitional period, lay down rules for the use of the banknotes and coins denominated in its national currency unit as referred to in Article 6(1) and take any measures necessary to facilitate their withdrawal.Article 16 In accordance with the laws or practices of participating Member States, the respective issuers of banknotes and coins shall continue to accept, against euro at the conversion rate, the banknotes and coins previously issued by them.PART VI ENTRY INTO FORCE Article 17 This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1999.This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States, in accordance with the Treaty, subject to Protocols 11 and 12 and Article 109k(1).Done at Brussels, 3 May 1998.For the CouncilThe PresidentG. BROWN(1) OJ C 369, 7. 12. 1996, p. 10.(2) OJ C 205, 5. 7. 1997, p. 18.(3) OJ C 380, 16. 12. 1996, p. 50.(4) OJ L 162, 19. 6. 1997, p. 1.(5) OJ L 141, 11. 6. 1993, p. 27. Directive as amended by Directive 95/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 168, 18. 7. 1995, p. 7).

Summary: Euro adoption Euro adoption SUMMARY OF: Regulation (EC) No 974/98 — on the introduction of the euro Article 140 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION AND OF ARTICLE 140 TFEU? The regulation defines the legal monetary requirements that European Union countries having adopted the euro must apply. It sets out the different stages leading to the introduction of the euro. Article 140 TFEU sets out the criteria for economic and monetary union membership and adoption of the euro. It provides for regular monitoring of the progress that non-euro countries make towards meeting those requirements. KEY POINTS The regulation on adopting the euro: contains details of the dates for the single currency in each country of euro adoption, for the cash changeover and for the phasing out of the national currency;confirms that the single currency is the euro, which is divided into 100 cents and replaces participating countries’ national currency at the agreed conversion rate;gives the European Central Bank and the national central banks of euro-participating countries exclusive power to put euro banknotes into circulation;allows national banknotes and coins to remain legal tender as from the day before the euro adoption date;sets out the terms of any phasing-out period for national currencies, an option no euro member took advantage of;states that national banknotes and coins remain legal tender in their respective countries until 6 months after the respective cash changeover dates;notes that euro banknotes and coins are the only legal tender in euro area countries after the respective changeover dates;authorises euro countries to apply adequate sanctions against any counterfeiting or falsification of banknotes and coins. To adopt the euro, countries must meet the following 4 economic and financial conditions, known as the convergence criteria, set out in Article 140 TFEU and in Protocol No 13 of the TFEU: price stability: have an inflation rate for 1 year no higher than 1.5% of the 3 lowest national euro area rates;government finances: ensure these are sound and sustainable by limiting national deficit and debt to no more than 3% and 60%, respectively, of national gross domestic product;exchange rate stability: avoid excessive currency fluctuations for at least 2 years by participating in the Exchange Rate Mechanism, which regulates rates between euro and non-euro members;interest rate convergence: have a long-term interest rate that does not exceed by 2 percentage points the rate of the 3 best-performing euro countries. The European Commission helped prepare for the arrival of the euro with a wide-ranging information campaign. This targeted: businesses that would be using the euro for transactions from 1 January 2002;the general public, which would need to adapt to the new coins and notes and the prices and values they express;special needs groups such as those socially or economically isolated, with physical disabilities or unable to read or write;school children who would grow up with the new currency and could help make their parents and elders familiar with it. FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY? It has applied since 1 January 1999. BACKGROUND 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the euro. On 1 January 1999, 11 EU countries fixed their exchange rates, adopted a shared monetary policy, and launched the euro as a new common currency on world financial markets. Today, the euro is the currency of 19 EU countries. For more information, see: The adoption of the euro: principles, procedures and criteria (European Central Bank) The euro (European Commission) 20 years of the euro (Europa). MAIN DOCUMENTS Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro (OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, pp. 1-5) Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 974/98 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only. Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union — Part Three — Union policies and internal actions — Title VIII — Economic and monetary policy — Chapter 5 — Transitional provisions — Article 140 (ex Articles 121(1), 122(2), second sentence, and 123(5) TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 108-110) RELATED DOCUMENT Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union — Protocol (No 13) on the convergence criteria (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 281-282) last update 14.02.2019


EUR-Lex - 32003D0093 - EN Avis juridique important | 32003D0093 2003/93/EC: Council Decision of 19 December 2002 authorising the Member States, in the interest of the Community, to sign the 1996 Hague Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in respect of parental responsibility andmeasures for the protection of children Official Journal L 048 , 21/02/2003 P. 0001 - 0002 Council decisionof 19 December 2002authorising the Member States, in the interest of the Community, to sign the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children(2003/93/CE)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 61(c) and Article 300 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Whereas:(1) The Community is working towards the establishment of a common judicial area based on the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions.(2) The Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children concluded on 19 October 1996 in the framework of The Hague Conference on Private International Law, (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) makes a valuable contribution to the protection of children at international level, and it is therefore desirable that its provisions be applied as soon as possible.(3) Certain articles of the Convention affect Community secondary legislation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments, in particular Council Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 of 29 May 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses(1).(4) The Community has exclusive competence for the relevant provisions of the Convention insofar as those articles affect Community rules adopted in this area. The Member States should retain their competence in the areas covered by the Convention which do not affect Community law.(5) Pursuant to the Convention, only sovereign States may be party to it. For that reason, the Community may not at present sign, ratify or accede to it.(6) The Council should therefore authorise the Member States, by way of exception, to sign the Convention in the interest of the Community, under the conditions set out in this Decision.(7) Taking account of Articles 23, 26 and 52 of the Convention, a Decision taken by a Member State on matters governed by the Convention may be recognised and enforced in another Member State in accordance with the relevant internal rules of Community law.(8) The United Kingdom and Ireland are taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision.(9) Denmark, in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is therefore not bound by it nor subject to its application,HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:Article 11. The Council hereby authorises the Member States to sign the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children, concluded on 19 October 1996, in the interest of the Community, subject to the conditions set out in the following articles.2. The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision(2).3. In this Decision, the term "Member State" shall mean all Member States with the exception of Denmark.Article 2When signing the Convention, Member States shall make the following declaration:"Articles 23, 26 and 52 of the Convention allow Contracting Parties a degree of flexibility in order to apply a simple and rapid regime for the recognition and enforcement of judgments. The Community rules provide for a system of recognition and enforcement which is at least as favourable as the rules laid down in the Convention. Accordingly, a judgment given in a Court of a Member State of the European Union, in respect of a matter relating to the Convention, shall be recognised and enforced in(3) by application of the relevant internal rules of Community law(4)."Article 3Member States shall make the necessary arrangements for the Convention to be signed before 1 June 2003.Article 4When signing the Convention, Member States shall inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in writing that the signing has taken place in accordance with this Decision.This Decision is addressed to the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.Done at Brussels, 19 December 2002.For the CouncilThe PresidentL. Espersen(1) OJ L 160, 30.6.2000, p. 19. Regulation as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1185/2002 (OJ L 173, 3.7.2002, p. 3).(2) See page 3 of this Official Journal.(3) Member State making the declaration.(4) Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000 plays a special role in this field since it relates to jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses.

Summary: Parental responsibility & protection of children (Hague Convention) Parental responsibility & protection of children (Hague Convention) SUMMARY OF: Decision 2003/93/EC on the 1996 Hague Convention relating to international legal aspects of parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children WHAT DOES THIS DECISION DO? It authorises EU countries to sign the Hague Convention. The convention lays down rules to improve protection for children in international situations and avoid conflicts between different national legal systems. All EU countries are party to the Hague Convention. This means they can rely on common legal rules when dealing with countries outside the EU who are parties to the Convention, to protect children involved in international disputes. KEY POINTS The Convention was concluded under the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It covers jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility. What is covered? The convention seeks to give international protection to children of up to 18 years old, by establishing: which country has jurisdiction to take measures to protect a child or their property; which law is applicable for exercising this jurisdiction; which law applies to parental responsibility; that the protection measures are recognised and enforced in all signatory countries; cooperation between signatory countries. The measures aimed at protecting a child relate to: parental responsibility; custody rights; guardianship; how the child is represented; placement of the child in foster or other care; supervision of that care; how the child’s property is managed. Which country is responsible? The country with jurisdiction to provide protection measures is generally the country where the child is usually resident. It is the country where they are present: for refugees or internationally displaced children; for children whose usual country of residence cannot be established; in emergencies (optional). Exception In a particular case, if another country appears to be better placed for assessing the best interests of the child, it may be allowed to assume jurisdiction. Which law applies? The country exercising jurisdiction does so under its own law. Exceptionally, it may apply or take into consideration the law of another country that is closely connected to the situation – if this is in the best interest of the child. A country can only refuse to apply the law designated by the convention for justified reasons of public policy and in the best interest of the child. Recognition & enforcement The measures a signatory country takes under this convention to protect a child or their property must be recognised in all other signatory countries. Only in a limited number of cases, as specified in the convention, may a country refuse recognition. When protection measures are declared enforceable in another country, that country must enforce them as if it had taken them itself, and do so in accordance with its own law. Cooperation Each signatory country must designate one or more central authorities to carry out the obligations imposed on it by the convention. These authorities must cooperate and exchange information with each other, as well as promote cooperation in such cases among their national authorities. BACKGROUND Protecting children’s rights – EU information ACT Council Decision 2003/93/EC of 19 December 2002 authorising the Member States, in the interest of the Community, to sign the 1996 Hague Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in respect of parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children (OJ L 48, 21.2.2003, pp. 1–2) RELATED ACTS Council Decision 2008/431/EC of 5 June 2008 authorising certain Member States to ratify, or accede to, in the interest of the European Community, the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children and authorising certain Member States to make a declaration on the application of the relevant internal rules of Community law - Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (OJ L 151, 11.6.2008, pp. 36–48) last update 26.07.2016