Glossary · Swiss and international law
Lugano Convention (CL 2007)
Treaty governing jurisdiction and enforcement of civil and commercial decisions between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA states.
Reference : LUG Convention of 30 October 2007
The Lugano Convention is, for Switzerland, the equivalent of the Brussels Ia Regulation on the EU side. It covers :
- jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters (contracts, tort, immovable property);
- recognition and enforcement of foreign decisions;
- maintenance arising from divorce (but not the divorce itself).
Excluded : personal status and capacity, matrimonial property regimes, succession, social security, arbitration. Divorce stricto sensu therefore falls under PILA, not Lugano.
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer party to Lugano — exequatur under the PILA regime is required for British judgments.