[SUCCESS] Effective enforcement against a foreign contractor (EPO)

How a European Payment Order and a precisely executed enforcement procedure in Poland helped our Client recover the full outstanding amount.

Result:

Receivables recovered: 100%

Foreign enforcement costs: €0

Instrument used: European Payment Order

Client’s Situation

Our Client — a Polish company providing services to entities across the European Union — faced a situation familiar to many entrepreneurs operating in cross-border markets: a foreign contractor stopped making payments, ignoring payment demands and all attempts at an amicable resolution.

The prospect of conducting enforcement proceedings abroad — in an unfamiliar legal system, in a foreign language, with the support of a foreign law firm — seemed not only costly, but outright discouraging. The Client needed an effective, controlled solution.

EU law provides businesses with powerful tools to recover cross-border receivables. The key is knowing how and when to use them.

Our Approach

After analyzing the debtor’s financial position and the available legal instruments, we decided to pursue a European Payment Order — a simplified cross-border procedure governed by Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. This mechanism allows for the fast and cost-effective obtaining of an enforceable title in cases involving undisputed monetary claims of a cross-border nature.

Stages of the Procedure

1. Analysis & Strategy — Verifying the validity of the claim, selecting the appropriate legal instrument, and assessing the debtor’s assets available in Poland.
2. Filing the EPO Application — Preparing and submitting the European Payment Order application using the standard Form A in accordance with EU regulations.
3. Obtaining the Title — Securing the issuance of the EPO, which is enforceable in all EU Member States without any separate recognition procedure.
4. Enforcement in Poland — Successfully conducting enforcement proceedings on Polish territory — without the costs of engaging foreign counsel.

What is a European Payment Order?

The European Payment Order (EPO) is an EU legal instrument designed to simplify the recovery of undisputed monetary claims in cross-border disputes between EU Member States. Its key advantages include reduced formalities and procedural costs, as well as automatic enforceability throughout the entire European Union — with no separate recognition procedure required.

When is an EPO the Right Solution?

• The claim is monetary in nature and due for payment
• The case is cross-border (parties in different EU Member States)
• You need to obtain an enforceable title quickly and cost-effectively
• The debtor holds assets or receivables in Poland or another EU country
• You wish to avoid the costs of conducting enforcement proceedings abroad

Outcome

The proceedings concluded with complete success. Through a precisely executed European Payment Order procedure and effective enforcement conducted in Poland, our Client recovered the full amount owed. The enforcement proceedings were carried out entirely on Polish territory, eliminating the need to engage foreign law firms and the costs associated with doing so.

The Client regained full control over the process, and the matter was resolved efficiently — free from the unnecessary complications that arise from differences between national legal systems.

Facing issues with a foreign contractor?

Cross-border receivables don’t have to mean costly and uncertain proceedings abroad. EU law provides effective tools — you just need to know how to use them. Contact us to discuss your options for recovering what you are owed.