EU-Recht im Ausland klären

If you are an EU citizen or a company in another country facing additional obstacles because an authority is not complying with EU law, SOLVIT can help you.

SOLVIT is a network in which EU member states work together to help you solve problems in a pragmatic way. The problems must have arisen in a specific individual case due to the incorrect application of EU law by an authority in another EU country.
Examples of cases in which SOLVIT can help:

• Recognition of your professional qualifications
• Visas and residence rights
• Trade and services (companies)
• Vehicles and driving licenses
• Family benefits
• Pensions
• Work abroad
• Unemployment benefits
• Health insurance
• Access to education
• Cross-border capital movements and payments
• VAT refund

In order to solve your problem as quickly as possible, SOLVIT draws on informal legal information from experts in the Member State administrations and the European Commission.

SOLVIT is an alternative problem-solving mechanism. Proposed solutions are not binding on you and cannot be contested. If your problem is not resolved, or if you consider the proposed solution unacceptable, you can still initiate a formal procedure.
Please note that a complaint to SOLVIT is of an informal nature and does not replace or formally interfere with an ongoing procedure. In particular, you remain responsible for complying with any time limits for appeals and legal action in administrative proceedings that are already underway.
SOLVIT can only take action if you have not yet taken your case to court.

Copies of any correspondence with the authority concerned and other relevant documents

• Your rights as an EU citizen or company have been violated by authorities in another EU country
• You have not yet taken the case to court (if you have only filed an administrative complaint, SOLVIT can take action).

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You can reach SOLVIT mainly via the Internet.
Report your concern by submitting your complaint to SOLVIT online.

• Alternatively, you can fill in the SOLVIT form and send it by e-mail or post to the German SOLVIT office.
• Please also enclose copies of any correspondence with the authority concerned and any other relevant documents.
• Your case will be processed by 2 SOLVIT centers:
  • your local SOLVIT office - home office
  • the SOLVIT office in the country where the problem occurred - lead office.
• Once you have submitted your problem to SOLVIT, the home office will proceed as follows:
  • It will contact you within one week and ask for further information if necessary.
  • It will check whether your case falls within SOLVIT's area of responsibility.
  • It compiles all the documents and forwards them to the lead office.
  • The home office will inform you regularly about the current status. However, please do not hesitate to contact them if you would like to know how your case is progressing.
• As soon as the lead office has received all the documents relating to your case, it will proceed as follows:
  • It will confirm within a week whether or not it will take on the case.
  • It will try to find a solution together with the authority that is causing you difficulties.
  • The lead agency will try to resolve problems within 10 weeks of taking over the case.

around 10 weeks

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• Legal services based on special expertise Clarification
• If an authority does not comply with EU law and this creates obstacles, SOLVIT can help
• SOLVIT is a network that provides pragmatic help with problems
• The problems must have arisen in a specific individual case due to the incorrect application of EU law by an authority in another EU country.
• Online application
• Help: within 10 days
• Complaints to SOLVIT are informal and do not replace ongoing proceedings

Forms: SOLVIT application
Online procedure possible: yes
Written form required: no
Personal appearance required: no