Hague Conference

The purpose of Hague Conference on Private International Law (HccH) is to work for the broad unification of the rules of private international law. Therefore, HccH develops and supports international conventions in the domains of Protection of Children, Family and Property Relations, Legal Cooperation and Litigation as well as Commercial and Finance Law.
As the world’s largest and most representative business organization, ICC contributed its expertise to the following HccH commercial and finance law initiatives:

• Hague Judgments Project
• International Conference on the Legal Aspects of an E-Commerce Transaction

Hague Judgments Project
“ Hague Judgments Project” aims at a global convention on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in civil and commercial matters. ICC appreciates the decision of HccH to focus the prepared convention on the choice of court provisions between businesses (B2B). The “Draft Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements” achieves more predictability and certainty in international contracts. It has the potential to become valuable for companies engaged in cross-border transactions.
To contribute to the effort of HccH and in particular to the work of the informal working group on “The Hague Judgments Project”, the “ICC Task Force on Jurisdiction and Applicable Law” conducted a survey among businesses about business practices with regard to choice of court agreements.
Once the new Convention enters into force, ICC is prepared to support HccH and its member states in raising awareness about this new legal instrument and its benefits to companies as well as their legal advisers around the world.

International Conference on the Legal Aspects of an E-Commerce Transaction
In October 2004 HccH, ICC and the Dutch Government have hosted an international conference in The Hague on the legal issues raised by E-Commerce. The programme not only focused on the areas of private law and private international law, but other areas such as international tax law. The conference raised general and political awareness of the vast range of legal questions raised by E-Commerce (e.g. pre-contractual phase, conclusion of contract, its performance and post-contractual phase) and provided a forum for dialogue between legislators, academics, lawyers and businesses. Furthermore, the conference assessed whether the current legal framework reflects business realities. As a result, possibilities for coordination among the different actors have been identified.

For more information please contact: