COUNCIL ACT of 26 May 1997 drawing up the Protocol on the interpretation, by the Court of Justice of the European Communities, of the Convention on the service in the Member States of the European Union of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (97/C 261/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article K.3 (2) (c) thereof,

Having regard to Article 17 of the Convention on the service in the Member States of the European Union of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters,

Whereas Article K.3 (2) (c) of the Treaty provides that conventions drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 thereof may stipulate that the Court of Justice of the European Communities shall have jurisdiction to interpret their provisions in accordance with such arrangements as they may lay down,

Having examined the views of the European Parliament (1), following the consultation conducted by the Presidency in accordance with Article K.6 of the Treaty,

HAVING DECIDED that the Protocol, the text of which is attached, which has been signed today by the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, is hereby drawn up;

RECOMMENDS that it be adopted by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Done at Brussels, 26 May 1997.

For the Council

The President

W. SORGDRAGER

(1) Opinion delivered on 11 April 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal).