On 26 June 2014, the EAPO Regulation to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters was formally published in the EU's Official Journal. This regulation applies to pecuniary claims in civil and commercial matters in cross-border cases and establishes a new procedure enabling a creditor to obtain a European Account Preservation Order. This order blocks funds held by a debtor in a bank account in a member state and prevents the removal of funds from the debtor's account, making attempts by a creditor to recover a debt harder to frustrate. The order is available to creditors as an alternative to preservation measures available under national law and procedure. The Regulation is directly applicable in the member states, except in the UK and Denmark where there is an opt-out in this area. This regulation will apply from 18 January 2017.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1414494535394&uri=CELEX:32014R0655

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