Refusal of recognition and enforcement of decisions under the Brussels 1 recast regulation: where the free circulation meets its limits

The evolving nature of the European cooperation in judicial matters marked a new step with the entry into force of Regulation No. 1215 of 2012. The instrument, replacing Regulation No. 44 of 2001, furthers the integration between the Member States' systems, by abolishing exequatur proceedings for the recognition and enforcement of judgments. However, limits to free movement of decisions are still contemplated. The paper deals with such limits, in order to understand whether the new context in which they operate changed somehow their meaning and scope. Finally, some considerations are developed with regard to the possibility of a further restriction (or of the complete abolition) of limits to the intra-EU movement of decisions.