European e-Justice Portal - Covid-19 impact on civil and insolvency matters

1 Covid-19 impact on civil proceedings

1.1 Time limits in civil proceedings

Procedural time limits are suspended until 30.4.2020.

1.2 Judicial organization and Judiciary

All hearings and other procedures are suspended until 30.4.2020. Exceptions: application for extremely urgent interim order, extradition proceedings and other proceedings dealing with restrictions to personal freedom (e.g. illegal detention, detention in a psychiatric institution.)

The Registrar accepts the filing of an action only if it is supported by an interim order application and provided that it is urgent for it to be heard. The matter of urgency is to be examined and decided by the judge.

1.3 EU Judicial Cooperation

2 Insolvency related measures adopted or planned for adoption in member states after the outbreak of the pandemic

2.1 Substantive insolvency measures and related contracts affecting measure

2.1.1 Insolvency suspension

2.1.1.1 Suspension of duty to file for insolvency (debtors)

2.1.1.2 Protection of debtors about insolvency filing from creditors

2.1.2 Claim enforcement suspension and contract termination suspension

2.1.2.1 General / specific moratoria on claims enforcement / certain types of claims enforcement

2.1.2.2 Suspension of contract termination (general / specific contracts)

Proceedings for eviction and the execution of eviction orders for the non-payment of the rent during the current period, have been suspended until 31-05- 2020.

2.2 Civil, including insolvency courts suspension and procedural suspensions

- Suspension of court cases between 16.3.2020 and 30.4.2020 with the following exceptions:

In civil cases

(i) applications for interim orders in exceptionally urgent cases,

(ii) appeals on auctions procedures for immovable property (etc).

- Suspension until 30.4.2020 all procedural deadlines foreseen in the Civil Procedure Rules and other deadlines prescribed in judicial judgments and orders.

2.3 Other insolvency measures (those relating to avoidance actions, reorganization plans, informal agreements, and others if appropriate)

The Department of Insolvency has proceeded with amendments on Personal Insolvency Law, with clauses on extension/renewal of court ordered stay of individual enforcement actions, due to special conditions. In addition a provision for online creditors meetings has been facilitated. The amendments of the law entered into force on August 2020.

Furthermore an ongoing simplification of procedures including the implementation of online forms submission and on line payments has been accelerated. However, it is expected that the online facilities will be available to the public by the second half of 2021.

2.4 Related non-insolvency measures (payment deferrals, bank loans, social security, health insurance, business subsidies)

Last update: 07/12/2023

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