With the European Union (EU) facing the biggest political rupture in its history, the UK voting to leave the union, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been debating...divorce settlements.
In at briefing statement, the European Parliament said: "New rules for deciding which country’s courts should settle property disputes in divorce or death cases involving international couples or registered partnerships were approved by MEPs on Thursday.
"These rules should end parallel proceedings – costing around €1.1bn annually – in various member states whose courts have to settle such property disputes. They will apply in 18 EU countries which were willing to join this 'enhanced cooperation' initiative."
Rapporteur Jean-Marie Cavada said: "It was about time that we had a European instrument for the property consequences of matrimonial regimes and registered partnerships. From now, international couples in all forms of marriages will benefit from legal security, better access to justice and harmonised rules that will fit the nearly 16 million international couples who live in the EU."
Just in time for the Brexit.