European order for payment
Also known as epo, european order for payment, european payment order, europæisk betalingspåkrav, europæisk betalingspåbud
The European order for payment is a common EU procedure for undisputed monetary claims across national borders.
Key facts
- Applies to
- Undisputed claims in the EU
- Recognised
- In every EU country
In practice
The European order for payment is the EU’s answer to the simplified Danish collection procedure: if the claim is undisputed, you can obtain an enforceable instrument that works throughout the EU without running an ordinary court case in the debtor’s country.
If the debtor lodges an objection, the procedure lapses — exactly as it does in Denmark — and the case moves into ordinary civil proceedings.
Where it commonly goes wrong
- People assume a cross-border case needs a lawyer in the debtor’s country from day one. For undisputed claims, it often does not.
- The procedure is used on a disputed claim. If the debtor objects, the case converts into ordinary proceedings in their country.