On 12 May, the Council and the European Parliament agreed on new rules to guarantee the rights of adults who need protection or support in cross-border situations. This includes rights related to the sale of property, medical care or relocation to another country.
The new law will protect the rights of adults who are no longer able to make decisions without some support – for example, those with age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease being supported by a family member or other representative.
Additionally, the regulation broadly aligns EU law in this area with international rules set out under the Hague Protection of Adults Convention, aiming to safeguard the autonomy of vulnerable adults, including their freedom to make their own choices, when moving within the EU.
Specifically, the new rules determine which court is competent to take protection measures in a cross-border case, which law applies, and the conditions for recognition and enforcement of measures or powers of representation established abroad.
Once the text has been finalised and formally approved by the co-legislators, the new legislation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU’s official journal. The measures will then start progressively entering into application as of 24 months later.
Further information on the new legislation is available at:
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/05/12/council-and-parliament-strike-deal-on-new-eu-rules-to-protect-vulnerable-adults/
