Parties

This chapter examines the part of the European Rules of Civil Procedure which aims to ensure that the court is properly accessible to all persons who have a legitimate interest in bringing or defending proceedings, i.e., in vindicating or enforcing rights. Parties to litigation can be persons who are able to hold rights under substantive law. Lacking litigation capacity, parties must be represented according to applicable law. In appropriate cases, proceedings may be brought by several claimants or against several defendants as parties joined to the litigation. The court may order the consolidation of separate proceedings for the purpose of properly managing them. At any time after the commencement of proceedings, substitution or succession of a party by another person is possible if required by law or if it is necessary in the interest of good administration of justice. The chapter then considers cross-border issues, including the capacity of foreign nationals to be a party, as well as their litigation capacity.