Workshops
ELRN Workshops 2024
Valletta, 20th & 21st of June
We are delighted to commemorate the successful conclusion of the second ELRN Workshop, held on June 20th and 21st in Valletta, Malta. Hosted by the Land Registration Agency of Malta.
The workshop commenced with an inaugural session featuring Hon. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Minister for Lands and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, and ELRA President, Mihai Taus, who delivered insightful opening remarks.
Day 1 of the workshop saw in-depth sessions exploring various facets of land registries. Claude Sapiano, Land Registrar from Malta’s Land Registration Agency, provided a historical overview and outlined future initiatives. Francisco Javier Gimeno Chocarro, ELRA Secretary General, moderated a discussion on cross-border mortgage registrations, highlighting legal frameworks and practical complexities. Additional sessions, including a round table led by Lucia Filagova from Slovakia and findings shared by Teresa Tourinan from Spain, further enriched the dialogue on regulatory challenges affecting immovables.
The day culminated with Prof. Sjef van Erp’s master class on sustainability in property rights, examining the impact of digitalization and climate change.
Day 2 continued with Enrique Maside, European Affairs Director of Colegio de Registradores de España, presenting insights into the European e-Justice Strategy and the role of artificial intelligence in land registries. Michelle Piccinino, Executive Head from Land Registration Agency, alongside Prof. Saviour Formosa from the University of Malta, discussed the digitalization of property registration processes, followed by engaging sessions led by Judge Dr. Marta Rękawek-Pachwicewicz from Poland on succession law and insolvency. Māris Kumerdanks from Latvia presented challenges in foreign property ownership within the EU.
The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony led by Mihai Taus and Michelle Piccinino, thanking the attendance and the participation of the rest of the countries.
- Overview of the Land Registry system of Malta by Claude Sapiano.
- Case Study in the framework of the Free Circulation of public documents in EU. What would a cross-border mortgage need to be registered in your land register? by Francisco J. Gimeno.
- Status and functioning of the Land Registry by Lucia Filagová.
- Study on restrictions on the purchase of immovables by non-EU citizens by Mª Teresa Touriñán.
- What creates a sustainable property right in land: substantive law or registration law? by Prof. dr. J.H.M. (Sjef) van Erp.
- Presentation on the e-Justice Strategy 2024-2028: aspects related to the land registries by Enrique Maside.
- Digitalization of the Property Registration Processes in Malta by Michelle Piccinino and Prof. Saviour Formosa.
- The property of foreigners: challenges by Māris Kumerdanks.
- Implementation of EU instruments; study on Succession Regulation and Ongoing study on Insolvency Regulation: further digitalization by Judge Dr. Marta Rekawek-Pachwicewicz.
Online, 11th of March
The first Workshop was held online and it was proved to be a significant gathering, drawing in 41 Contact Points and members from 18 European countries.
The Workshop opened with a presentation by ELRA President, Mihai Taus. The day featured a diverse array of topics. Insightful discussions on the implementation of EU instruments, notably the Succession Regulation (No 650/2012), outlining its applicability to individuals who passed away on or after August 17, 2015, and its regulation of jurisdiction, applicable law, and the creation of the European Certificate of Succession (ECS) by Ana Luisa Freitas, a Land Registrar from Portugal.
This was followed by the presentation of a new topic by our Board member Jacques Vos, the possible effects of Rights for Nature in Land Registration.
The first part of this Workshop concluded with a practical study case led by our ELRA Coordinator, Francisco J. Gimeno, where a round table discussion took place in which each country intervened providing different information on what is needed to register the European foreign deed of plot purchase of land in each Land Registry.
Subsequently by a second part, which began with a depth examination of the Unique Parcel Identification Number, with a summary of the Contact Points’ contributions provided by Paulo Manuel Garces Vieira, a Contact Point from Instituto dos Registos (Portugal).
Discussions surrounding restrictions on the purchase of immovables by non-EU citizens, culminating in a summary of the last Contact Points’ contributions by Mª Teresa Touriñán, a Contact Point from CORPME (Spain).
Our ELRN Coordinator, Francisco J. Gimeno, who moderated the entire Workshop, ended with an overall assessment of the previous year through some general comments. We also informed about our new X account (@ElraSecretariat) and the Newsletter of the previous year.
Finally, the ceremony was closed by our ELRA President, Mihai Taus, thanking the attendance and the participation of the rest of the countries.
ELRN Workshops 2023
Funchal, 23rd November 2023
On 23 and 24 November, a workshop and ELRA’s Annual General Assembly was take place in Funchal, in a hybrid format, in the Salão Nobre of the Regional Legislative Assembly, bringing together representatives from 29 registry organisations from 25 European countries, chaired by Luisa Clode, a land registry office in Funchal, the first woman and the first Portuguese to hold this position.
The opening session on 23 November was attended by the Representative of the Republic, Judge Ireneu Cabral Barreto, the Vice President of the Regional Legislative Assembly, Rubina Leal representing the President of the ALRAM, Dr José Manuel Rodrigues, the Regional Secretary responsible for Justice Services in Madeira, representing the President of the Regional Government and the Secretary of State for Justice, Dr Pedro Ferrão Tavares. The opening session was also attended by the President of the Regional Council of the Bar Association, Dr Artur Baptista, the President of the Regional Delegation of the Centre, South and Islands of the Notaries’ Association, Dr Susana Teixeira and the Presiding Judge of the Madeira District Court, Dr Filipe Câmara.
On the first day, the Contact Points of the ELRN met for presentations and round tables on European themes such as: the implementation of the European Succession Regulation; the comparative study of the unique property identifier and how it is structured in the various Member States, an initiative of the Institute of Registries and Notaries of Portugal; or the limitations on the acquisition of property by non-European citizens, promoted by the Colegio de Registradores de España.
- Succession Regulation:
- Summary on the CP’s contributions to the questionnaire on requirements to register an immovable by Pilar Verdejo, CP from Spain
- Practical implementation by Ana Luisa Freitas, Land Registrar from Portugal
- Adaptation of rights by Carolina Gouveia Costa, Coimbra University
- Free movement of public documents: ELRA report by Fernando de la Puente, Land Registrar of Spain
- Cross-border protection of vulnerable adults:
- Presentation of the proposal for a Regulation by Marie Vautravers, EJN Secretary General (DG JUST)
- Study on the Unique Parcel Identification Number by Paula Galhardas and Paulo Manuel Garces Vieira, CPs from IRN (Portugal)
- Study on restrictions on the purchase of immovables by non-EU citizens by Mª Teresa Touriñán, CP from Spain
Stockholm, 24-25 May
We are pleased to report that the second Workshop of the year organised by our association was successfully completed in Stockholm on 24 and 25 May 2023. Representatives from more than 20 organisations from different countries were able to attend the event, both in person and online. In this regard, we would like to highlight, first, the participation for the first time of State Land Cadastre in Ukraine, where they presented their organisation and the main challenges, they are facing due to the current situation.
The training programme opened with a very warm welcome by Susanne Ås Sivborg, Director General of Lantmäteriet, where the State of Sweden is currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Accordingly, the first panel on the implementation of EU instruments began, focusing mainly on the study of the Regulation of Succession: the analysis on its limits by Anabela Gonçalves, Vice Dean and Professor at the Law School of Minho University, the study of the CJEU 9 March 2023 Case C-354/21 by Pilar Verdejo, Spanish CP, and the continuation of the analysis of Article 69.5 (registration) by David Fridh, ELRA Board member.
In matters of succession, it is worth noting the different contributions of the Contact Points with the discussions arising from the questions proposed at the round table: on the one hand, regarding the documents and requirements necessary to register an immovable good in the different property registers of the members; and, on the other hand, regarding the possible differences when there is only one heir.
The next panel concerned the presentation on the comparative current situation of the protection of vulnerable adults in cross-border situations by the president of the association, Luisa Clode. We continued with the digital transition and the acceptance of electronic documents in Land Registries as a matter of constant evolution and discussion, with the respective presentations by Erika P Björkdahl, member of the Uppsala University and Marta Rekawek – Pachwicewicz, Judge at Bialystok Regional Court.
During the development of the session, we followed the ongoing study on the new proposal harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law, analysing the different contributions of the Contact Points on the questionnaire prepared by our Secretary General, Francisco J. Gimeno.
On the second day of the Workshop, we kicked off with the study on free movement of public documents as an implementation of EU instruments, with an exhaustive analysis on building a consensus by Fernando de la Puente, Spanish Land and Business Registrar. The next panel was on Climate change and the need of accurate information: on the one hand, Paulo Magalhães, Jurist and researcher at Centre for Legal Research of the University of Oporto, analysed the phenomenon as a common heritage and the role of registry informaton; and, on the other hand, Robert Bray, member of the Council of the European Law Institute and former Head of Secretariat of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, presented the ELI’s report on Ecocide.
Regarding cooperation with other European associations and projects, we received Walter Szoek, President of EUR Rechtspfleger, presenting the association and Prof. Afonso Patrão, Judge at the Portuguese Constitutional Court, who introduced the results of the EU ADAPT Project. Also, it is worth mentioning the first cooperation with the State Land Cadastre of Ukraine, where Alina Suschchyk, Head of the International Cooperation Division of StadeGeoCadastre, presented the functioning of their organisation and the main challenges and needs they are facing given the difficult circumstances they are facing.
To conclude, David Fridh, ELRA Board member, explained the value of ELRA in the current situation of European affairs. The closing ceremony was performed by our president, Luisa Clode.
- The European Succession Regulation and its limits by Anabela Gonçalves
- Study of a CJEU 9 March 2023 Case C-354/21 by Pilar Verdejo
- Legal and technological aspects of the implementation of proposed EU law on Artificial Intelligence in the land registry systems by Marta Rekawek – Pachwicewicz
- Continue study of article 69.5 (registration) by David Fridh
- Cross-border protection of vulnerable adults. Current comparative situation by Luisa Clode
- Ongoing study on the new proposal harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law by Francisco Gimeno
- IMOLA IV by Back-office members.
- Building a consensus by Fernando de la Puente
- Climate Change as a common heritage and the role of registry information by Paulo Magalhães
- The ELI’s Report on Ecocide by Robert Bray
- Europäische Union der Rechtspfleger (EUR) – Stakeholder and EU Partner by Walter Szoek
- EU ADAPT project by Prof Afonso Patrão
- The functioning of the State Land Cadastre in Ukraine under martial law by Alina Sushchyk.
- ELRA an inspiration for the development of the land register by David Fridh
Online, 8th of March
The first 2023 workshop was held online and participated 42 Contact Points and members of 18 European countries.
The workshop opened with a presentation by Board member Mihai Taus, who introduced the statement on the Statute of the European Land Registrar, the quintessence of what land registrars should stand for and what the association has been working on for the last year.
The final conclusions of the study on «Regulation (EU) 2018/1805 on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders» were presented by Jorge Lopez, Spanish Land Registrar. A new Fact Sheet on this topic has been already published. For more information click here
Afterwards, Fernando de la Puente, former President of ELRA, briefed the Contact Points on the next steps of the study on the «free circulation of public documents«.
On this occasion we were joined by two representatives of the European Commission, DG Justice, civil justice unit with whom the association works closely:
Marie Vautravers, EJN Secretary General, presented the conclusions of the ELRN Contact Points on cross-border protection of vulnerable adults and Maria Vilar-Badia presented the new proposal Regulation for the recognition of parenthood between Member States.
Francisco J. Gimeno, ELRA Secretary General, then presented the proposal for a Directive harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law on which the association will be working this year and some internal issues to conclude.
