Child support made easier throughout EU

Child support for children whose parents separate should be made simpler and faster thanks to a new EU ruling.

Putting the child's interests first was the driving force behind the ruling, which attempted to address the issue of absentee parents evading their financial obligations to their children.

Currently estranged or divorced parents living in Europe may face difficulties when recovering unpaid child support from a person in another EU country.

With an estimated 16 million international couples living in the EU and one million divorces granted annually, a new law treating this issue was well overdue.

Under the European Union scheme, any decision relating to maintenance obligations made in one EU country will now be enforceable in another member state without the parent having to go through the same procedure.

In addition, the regulation ensures that the process is speeded-up and should save parents money.

Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said: “The interests of children must always prevail. These rules will ensure that they continue to receive financial assistance if a parent lives far away in another Member State of the Union”.