European small claims procedure: experience of Lithuania

Abstract

Authors analyse the situation after the Regulation (EC) No. 861/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 creating a European small claims procedure which was adopted on 11 July 2007 came into the force and what changes it brought into practice in member states specifically in Lithuania where the Civil Procedure Code was adopted quite recently. The article shows that European small claims procedure is a seldom used instrument in Lithuania nevertheless when it happens it is used efficiently. Authors came to the conclusions that European small claims procedure is new, not very well known and still not a popular instrument, but it has a future. The aim of the article is to let lawyers in the society know more about the possibilities that the European small claims procedure gives and to help find out the advantages of the Procedure for practitioners. To achieve this goal authors examine the peculiarities of legal regulation of European small claims procedure and the experience of Lithuania in court practice.