Article 81
Suspension of proceedings

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Nat. Regulation

There is no recital in the Regulation related to article 81.

There is no recital in the Directive related to article 81.

The GDPR

The Regulation introduces a suspension mechanism when an action against a controller or a processor with the same scope is introduced simultaneously before the courts of several Member States.

Thus, where a competent court has information on proceedings, concerning the same subject matter that is pending in a court in another Member State, it shall first check this information with the court concerned (paragraph 1). Where proceedings concerning the same subject matter as regards processing of the same controller or processor, any competent court other than the court first seized may suspend its proceedings (paragraph 2).

In addition to the suspension procedure, paragraph 3 provides for the possibility for the court subsequently seized to waive competence in favour of the court first seized, at the request of one of the parties. It is necessary however that the procedure in question is pending at first instance, the court first seized must be competent to consider all the requests and the applicable national law must allow such a consolidation.

We can easily imagine that the objective of the Union legislature is to prevent several courts in different Member States from releasing contradictory decisions concerning the same subject matter with respect to the operations of the same controller.

The Directive

The Directive included no similar provision.

Potential issues

First, how will the courts subsequently seized be informed of the existence of prior proceedings before the courts of another Member State as presumably, it will be in the interest of the controller or its subcontractor or the processor to report this.

The risk of contradiction is not excluded as Article 81 does not require the courts subsequently seized to suspend the current procedure but only leaves them the option to do so at their discretion.

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Regulation
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Art. 81

1.   Where a competent court of a Member State has information on proceedings, concerning the same subject matter as regards processing by the same controller or processor, that are pending in a court in another Member State, it shall contact that court in the other Member State to confirm the existence of such proceedings.

2.   Where proceedings concerning the same subject matter as regards processing of the same controller or processor are pending in a court in another Member State, any competent court other than the court first seized may suspend its proceedings.

3.   Where those proceedings are pending at first instance, any court other than the court first seized may also, on the application of one of the parties, decline jurisdiction if the court first seized has jurisdiction over the actions in question and its law permits the consolidation thereof.

1st proposal close

No specific provision

2nd proposal close

Art. 76a 

1. Where a competent court of a Member State has information on proceedings concerning the same subject matter as regards processing (...) of the same controller or processor are pending in a court in another Member State, it shall contact that court in the other Member State to confirm the existence of such proceedings.

2. Where proceedings concerning the same subject matter as regards processing (...) of the same controller or processor are pending in a court in another Member State, any competent court other than the court first seized may suspend its proceedings. 

2a. Where these proceedings are pending at first instance, any court other than the court first seized may also, on the application of one of the parties, decline jurisdiction if the court first seized has jurisdiction over the actions in question and its law permits the consolidation thereof. 3. (…).

Directive close

No specific provision

United Kingdom close

No specific provision.

 

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