Legal services based on special expertise Clarification

If you are an EU citizen or a company in another country and you face additional obstacles because an authority does not comply with EU law, SOLVIT can help.

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 as a result of the incorrect application of EU law by an authority in another EU country.
Examples of cases where SOLVIT can help include

• Recognition of your professional qualifications
• Visas and residence rights
• Trade and services (companies)
• Vehicles and driving licences
• Family benefits
• Pensions
• Working abroad
• Unemployment benefits
• Health insurance
• access to education
• cross-border capital movements and payments
• VAT reimbursement

In order to solve your problem as quickly as possible, SOLVIT uses informal legal advice from experts in the Member States' administrations and the European Commission.

SOLVIT is an alternative problem-solving mechanism. Proposed solutions are not binding on you and cannot be challenged. If your problem is not solved, or if you find the proposed solution unacceptable, you can still start a formal procedure.
Please note that a complaint to SOLVIT is informal and does not replace or formally interfere with any procedure already in progress. In particular, you remain in any case responsible for complying with possible deadlines for appeals and complaints in an already ongoing administrative procedure.
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

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

• Your rights as an EU citizen or business 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 so far, SOLVIT can take action).

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

• Alternatively, you can fill in the SOLVIT form and send it by e-mail or post to the German SOLVIT centre.
• Please also attach copies of any correspondence with the authority concerned and any other relevant documents.
• Your case will be dealt with by 2 SOLVIT centres:
  • your local SOLVIT centre - home centre
  • the SOLVIT centre in the country where the problem occurred - lead centre.
• 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 the remit of SOLVIT.
  • It compiles all the documentation and forwards it to the lead centre.
  • The home office will keep you regularly informed of the current situation. However, do not hesitate to ask there if you want to know how your case is progressing.
• Once the lead office has received all the documents relating to your case, it proceeds as follows:
  • It will confirm within a week whether or not it will take over 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.

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about 10 weeks

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