Security Rights and the European Insolvency Regulation

Security rights are of fundamental importance to the granting of credit. They are generally considered to increase the availability and lower the cost of credit but there appear to be divergent views across Europe and elsewhere on the extent to which it should be possible to create security rights over assets.

Moreover, laws in many countries – avoidance laws – strike at advantage gaining by creditors in the period immediately before formal insolvency proceedings are instituted. It is seen as potentially unfair to other creditors who may be forced into taking enforcement proceedings against the debtor and this may precipitate the premature liquidation of the debtor with an overall loss of economic value.

The book will assess the conception of security rights according to the different European legal traditions. It will also evaluate the appropriateness of the protection given to security rights in light of:
- developments in those European legal traditions
- the objective of the Insolvency Regulation to facilitate the more effective administration of cross-border insolvency cases
- the need for security in the context of the financial crisis
- the basic principles of ensuring fairness between creditors
- forestalling premature liquidation; and
- reinforcing the collective nature of the insolvency process.

The growth strategy put forward by the European Commission, Europe 2020, is designed to achieve economy recovery and sustainable growth, targeting as primary goals a higher investment rate and the preservation of employment. The rescue of troubled enterprises is at the core of this strategy and the book plots the alignment between this strategy and the evolution of the Insolvency Regulation.

The objective is to facilitate a situation where economic and social systems are adaptable, resilient and fair; where economic activity is sustainable; and where human values are respected.