EU Cuts Red Tape on Authenticity of Public Documents

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a regulation to cut costs and formalities for EU citizens who need to present a public document in an EU country different from their own.

Currently, citizens moving to or living in another EU country must obtain a stamp to prove that their public documents such as certificates of birth, marriage or death are authentic.

Under the new regulation, proposed by the European Commission, this stamp and the red tape linked to it will no longer be required when presenting public documents issued in one EU country to the authorities of another EU country.

This is good news for people who move to another EU country, for example, to study or work, Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova commented in a statement.

"These citizens often need to go through costly and time-consuming bureaucratic procedures to present a public document to get married or obtain a job in the country they live in. Today, we put an end to this red tape and help people move easily across the European Union,” Jourova said.

The regulation deals only with the authenticity of public documents, so EU member states will continue to apply their national rules concerning the recognition of the content and effects of a public document issued in another EU country.

Member States have two years and a half from the date of entry into force of the new regulation to adopt all the measures that will allow for the smooth application of the regulation at the end of this period.

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