Sparks Project

Background to Research 2007

During 2007 Eurosparks analysed existing legislation relating to mutual recognition, co-operation between court services and debt recovery, as well as compared custom and practice in parallel policy areas.

The project was launched on 1 February 2007 and ran for 12 months. Its aims were to:
  • Analyse the basis under EU law for judicial co-operation across national borders to support enforcement of civil administrative debts
  • Compare custom and practice in other legal policy areas - such as the environment, tax and family law - in a number of EU member states
  • Draft proposals for new secondary legislation and intergovernmental agreements
  • Develop a soundly constructed legal argument to facilitate dialogue with the European Commission and other EU institutions
  • Create a roadmap for legal innovation.

Legal academics from England, France Germany and Italy, led by Professor Patrick Birkinshaw of Hull University, defined the legal problem and reviewed existing primary sources, current multinational commentary and legal principles in parallel policy areas.

Based on the review they developed recommendations for adapting existing remedies and creating new legislation. Their work was reviewed by Professor David McClean Emeritus Professor of Law at Sheffield University.

Dissemination seminars were held in Italy, Malta, Spain, The Netherlands, France, United Kingdom and Brussels to gain feedback from industry and legal audiences during the autumn 2007. This was incorporated into the final report and recommendations, which were presented to EU institutions and the European Commission early in 2008.

The European Commission provided €100,000 in funding under its Civil Justice Framework Programme. Transport for London, through the Enforcement Task Force, provided the remaining funding and led the project.

Legal Partners

Professor Patrick Birkinshaw, Professor of Public Law & European Law, University of Hull
Professor Dr Jens-Peter Schneider, Chair in German & European Administrative Law, University of Osnabruck
Professor Andrea Biondi, Professor of European Union Law, Centre of European Law, College of Europe, Kings College London
Professor Jean-Bernard Auby, Chaire Mutations de L’action publique et du droit public, Science Po, Paris
Dr Mirjam Freudenthal, Associate Professor, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Emeritus Professor David McClean, CBE, QC, DCL, FBA. Formerly Dean of the Faculty of Law and Pro-vice-chancellor University of Sheffield

Hull Team

Professor Patrick Birkinshaw
Dr Martina Kunnecke, lecturer in Comparative Public Law & Administration
Dr Christian Twigg-Flesner, senior lecturer in Private Law
Dr Mike Varney, lecturer in European Public Law

Dissemination Partners

VNG, The Netherlands
VVSG, Belgium
Local Councils Association, Malta
Valencia and Aragon regions, Spain
Lazio Region, Italy
Eitco, Germany
British Parking Association, United Kingdom
Transport for London, United Kingdom
London Councils, United Kingdom

Facts & Figures

  • Over 3 million foreign registered vehicles (FRVs)enter the UK each year
  • At any one time 142,000 FRVs are in the UK - 90% are cars, 8% are HGVs, 1% are coaches
  • At any one time 3% of all vehicles driving on London's roads are FRVs; 47% are cars, 43% are HGVs, 7% are coaches
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