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UK’s Lugano admission bid faces EU block

The European Commission is reported to have urged against the UK's admission to a key international agreement on judicial co-operation.

The Lugano Convention determines which country’s courts may hear civil or commercial cross-border disputes, and which decisions can be enforced.

The Financial Times (FT) had reported yesterday (12 April) that the commission was set to give its blessing for the UK’s attempt to join the agreement.

Struggled

The FT later said, however, that the EU body had opted to take the opposite course at a closed-door meeting with EU diplomats.

The commission reportedly argued that the UK should be left outside on the grounds that, post-Brexit, it was neither a member of the European Economic Area nor the European Free Trade Association.

The decision will ultimately be taken by EU leaders. Norway, Switzerland and Iceland are also participants in the agreement.

The UK submitted an application to accede to the 2007 Lugano Convention in April 2020 but has struggled to gain membership, according to the Law Society Gazette of England and Wales.