This book contains the proposal for a directive on the approximation of laws and rules of the Member States of the European Union concerning certain aspects of civil procedural law, as it has been submitted to the European Commission. For a very long time, procedural law (judicial organization, jurisdiction and rules of procedure) was excluded from the scope of EC law, except for the purpose of access to the European Court of Justice. This is now changing as it is felt that with the further integration between the EU Member States it is also necessary to harmonize the rules on procedural law. Furthermore, this proposal will also be of interest to states which are seeking EU membership. This book is published by Kluwer Rechtswetenschappen Belgiandeuml; and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers in the series BIBLIOTHEEK VOOR GERECHTELIJK RECHT .