The European Payment Order
A Practical Guide to Cross-Border Debt Recovery in Greece
March 7th, 2026.
Imagine this: you are a Greek business owner, and a client in Germany owes you €25,000 for services you delivered six months ago. The invoices are clear. The emails confirm the debt. But your client simply will not pay. Do you really need to hire a German lawyer, navigate German courts, and spend months (and thousands of euros) chasing what is rightfully yours?
The short answer is: no. The European Payment Order (EPO) was designed precisely for situations like this – and it is one of the most underused tools in the EU’s legal toolkit.
In this guide, we break down how the EPO works, what it means for businesses and individuals operating out of Greece, and what recent developments you should know about heading into 2026.
WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN PAYMENT ORDER?
The European Payment Order is a streamlined court procedure governed by Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/2421). It allows a creditor in one EU Member State to recover an uncontested monetary debt from a debtor in another EU Member State – quickly, affordably, and without the need to appear in court.
Think of it as the EU’s fast lane for collecting cross-border debts. The entire process runs on standardised forms, the court examines the application on paper, and if the debtor does not object within 30 days, the order becomes automatically enforceable across the EU (except Denmark).
Key Takeaway: The EPO eliminates the need for a separate “exequatur” procedure. An enforceable EPO issued in Greece can be enforced in France, Italy, or any other EU Member State directly – no foreign court approval required.
Before reaching for this tool, you need to tick a few boxes:
When can you use it?
Cross-border element
At least one of the parties must be domiciled or habitually resident in a Member State other than the Member State of the court handling the application. If both you and your debtor are based in Greece, the EPO is not available – you would use the domestic payment order procedure instead (Articles 623–634 of the Greek Code of Civil Procedure).
Pecuniary claim, due and specific
Only monetary claims that are specific, quantified, and already due at the time of the application qualify. You cannot use the EPO to claim delivery of goods, future payments, or damages that have not yet been determined.
Civil or commercial matter
The procedure covers civil and commercial matters. It does not cover tax, customs, or administrative disputes. It also excludes matrimonial property, inheritance, bankruptcy, and social security matters. Non-contractual claims are excluded too, unless there is a written agreement, an acknowledgment of debt, or the claims arise from the joint ownership of property.
Practical Tip: The EPO is particularly effective for unpaid invoices, outstanding loan repayments, and contractual debts backed by clear documentation. If your claim is well-documented and straightforward, the EPO is likely your best option.
The Step-by-Step Process
STEP 1: FILING THE APPLICATION (Form A)
Everything begins with Form A, the standardised application form available in all EU official languages on the European e-Justice Portal. The form requires:
• Full details of both parties (claimant and defendant), including names, addresses, and identification numbers where available.
• The court you are applying to and the basis for its jurisdiction.
• The amount of the claim, broken down into principal, interest (specifying the rate and calculation period), and costs.
• A description of the circumstances giving rise to the claim and the evidence supporting it (you do not need to submit the actual evidence — only describe it).
• The facts establishing the cross-border nature of the case.
• Bank details of the claimant (in case the defendant decides to pay voluntarily).
Important Note: You only need to describe your evidence (e.g., “invoice dated 15 January 2025, contract signed 3 March 2024”). You do not attach the actual documents to the application. This is a deliberate feature of the EPO – it simplifies and accelerates the process, though it also means the debtor cannot examine the evidence before deciding whether to object.
STEP 2: COURT EXAMINATION
Once the application is filed, the court examines it as soon as possible and, under normal circumstances, within 30 days. The court checks whether the admissibility requirements are met (cross-border nature, civil/commercial matter, court jurisdiction) and whether the claim appears well-founded.
If the application is incomplete but not clearly inadmissible or unfounded, the court will give you the opportunity to correct or supplement it using Form B. If only part of your claim meets the requirements, the court will inform you via Form C and ask whether you accept a partial EPO. If you decline the partial order, the entire application is rejected.
STEP 3: ISSUANCE OR REJECTION
If all conditions are satisfied, the court issues the European Payment Order using Form E. Court fees are payable at this stage – in Greece, this consists of a judicial stamp duty calculated at approximately eight per mille (‰) of the claimed amount (for claims over €200), plus additional parafiscal levies.
If the application is rejected, you receive a notification via Form D with the reasons. The rejection cannot be appealed, but it does not prevent you from filing a new EPO application or pursuing the claim through any other available procedure.
STEP 4: SERVICE ON THE DEFENDANT
The court serves the EPO on the defendant in accordance with the national law of the Member State where service takes place. The Regulation sets minimum standards for service, distinguishing between methods with proof of receipt (personal service with signed acknowledgment, postal service with return receipt, electronic service with confirmed receipt) and methods without proof of receipt (delivery to a person at the defendant’s address, deposit in the mailbox, deposit at a post office with written notice, etc.). Proper service is critical. If the defendant’s address is not known with certainty, service cannot be effected, and the process stalls.
STEP 5: THE DEFENDANT’S OPTIONS
Once served, the defendant has exactly 30 days to either:
• Pay the amount specified in the order to the claimant; or
• Lodge a statement of opposition using Form F, simply stating that they contest the claim. No reasons need to be given.
If the defendant does nothing within 30 days, the court declares the EPO enforceable using Form G. At that point, you hold a cross-border enforcement title that is recognised across the EU.
STEP 6: WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DEFENDANT OBJECTS
If the defendant files a statement of opposition, the EPO procedure ends. However, since the 2015 amendment (Regulation (EU) 2015/2421), the case can proceed in one of three ways:
• Transfer to ordinary civil proceedings in the competent court of the Member State of origin, governed by that State’s national procedural law.
• Transfer to the European Small Claims Procedure (for claims up to €5,000).
• Termination of proceedings, if the claimant expressly requested this option in the original application.
Strategic Consideration: Always consider whether to check the “terminate proceedings” box on Form A. If your claim is strong and the debtor is unlikely to object, this costs you nothing. But if the debtor does object and you have not opted for continuation, you will need to start fresh with a separate action.
The Greek Angle: What You Need to Know
Which Court Is Competent in Greece?
Jurisdiction for the EPO follows EU rules – primarily the Brussels I Recast Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012). As a general rule, the competent court is the one in the Member State where the defendant is domiciled. There are alternative grounds (e.g., the place of performance of the obligation in contractual matters), but for consumer defendants there is a strict protective rule: only the courts of the consumer’s domicile have jurisdiction. If Greece is the relevant jurisdiction, the competent court is the Court of First Instance (Πρωτοδικείο).
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Under EU law, legal representation is not required for the EPO procedure itself. However, Greek national law introduces a nuance: if the application is directed to the Court of First Instance (claims over €20,000) or to the Magistrate’s Court for claims between €12,000 and €20,000, a lawyer’s signature is mandatory. For claims below €12,000 filed at the Magistrate’s Court, you may proceed without a lawyer.
Our Recommendation: Even when a lawyer is not strictly required, professional assistance significantly reduces the risk of procedural errors, incomplete forms, and rejected applications – especially when dealing with cross-border complexities and language requirements.
Court Fees in Greece
When filing the EPO application (Form A) in Greece, you must pay a judicial stamp duty (dikastikó énsimo) calculated at approximately eight per mille of the claimed amount (for claims exceeding €200), plus parafiscal levies to national bodies. If your EPO is issued and becomes enforceable, a certified copy fee (télos apográfou) also applies upon obtaining the enforcement copy.
The Domestic Alternative: Greek Payment Order
It is worth noting that Greece has its own domestic payment order procedure under Articles 623–634 of the Code of Civil Procedure. However, this procedure cannot be used when the debtor resides abroad or their domicile is unknown (unless they have appointed a representative in Greece). The domestic procedure requires that the claim and amount be proven by documents, has a 15-working-day opposition window (rather than 30 days), and the payment order is directly enforceable from issuance. Unlike the EPO, however, a domestic Greek payment order cannot circulate freely across the EU for enforcement.
What’s New: The 2025 Digitalisation Regulation
A significant development affecting the EPO landscape is Regulation (EU) 2023/2844, which became applicable on 1 May 2025. This regulation establishes a uniform legal framework for the digitalisation of judicial cooperation across the EU.
For the European Payment Order specifically, this means:
• Digital communication between courts: Courts across Member States are transitioning to a decentralised IT system for handling cross-border judicial communications, replacing paper-based exchanges between authorities.
• European Electronic Access Point: A European Electronic Access Point (EEAP) is being established on the European e-Justice Portal. Once fully operational, it will allow individuals and businesses to submit EPO applications and communicate with competent courts electronically across borders.
• Electronic service of documents: The Regulation provides for electronic service of judicial documents through the access point, provided the addressee has given prior express consent to receive documents electronically.
• Electronic fees and signatures: The framework generalises the use of electronic signatures and seals, as well as electronic payment of court fees.
While the full infrastructure is still being rolled out (the electronic access point will become operational once the relevant implementing acts are adopted), this marks a clear trajectory toward a fully digital EPO process. For practitioners and businesses alike, it promises faster processing, lower administrative overhead, and greater accessibility.
why use the epo?
Advantages and Limitations
Speed
The court should issue the order within 30 days of receiving a compliant application, and if the debtor does not object, enforcement follows automatically.
Low cost
Court fees are generally lower than in ordinary proceedings. Legal representation is often not required in the initial phase.
No court appearance
The entire procedure is conducted in writing – no hearings, no travel.
EU-wide enforcement
An enforceable EPO issued in any Member State (except Denmark) can be enforced in any other Member State without recognition formalities.
No cap
There is no ceiling on the amount you can claim.
What Are the Limitations?
Objection ends the fast track
If the debtor files a statement of opposition (which requires no justification), the fast-track procedure ends and you are redirected to ordinary proceedings.
Evidence is not examined
The creditor only describes their evidence on the form; they do not submit actual documents. This means the debtor must decide whether to object without seeing the supporting evidence – a design choice that speeds up the process but raises fairness concerns.
Address must be known
The debtor’s address must be known with certainty. If you cannot locate the debtor, service cannot be completed and the procedure cannot move forward.
Digitalization is a work in progress
While the 2025 Digitalisation Regulation is promising, not all Member States have fully operational electronic systems yet. Some applications may still need to be filed on paper.
Practical Checklist Before You File
Before submitting your EPO application, make sure you have covered the following:
• Confirm at least one party is domiciled in a different Member State from the court you are applying to.
• Ensure the claim is for a specific monetary amount that is already due.
• Identify the correct court based on EU jurisdiction rules (typically the defendant’s domicile).
• Gather your documentation: contracts, invoices, correspondence, proof of delivery – you will need to describe these on Form A.
• Calculate the total claim accurately: principal, interest (with rate and period), and costs.
• Have the defendant’s full address confirmed.
• Budget for court fees and, if applicable, translation costs.
• Decide in advance whether you want proceedings to continue in ordinary courts or terminate if the debtor objects.
Final Thoughts
The European Payment Order remains one of the most practical mechanisms available to creditors operating across EU borders. For Greek businesses and individuals with clear, documented, cross-border monetary claims, it offers a path to enforcement that is faster, cheaper, and simpler than traditional litigation.
The ongoing digitalisation of EU judicial cooperation is only making this tool more accessible. As electronic filing and cross-border digital communication become the norm, the EPO will likely become even more efficient in the years ahead.
If you are considering pursuing a cross-border debt or need guidance on whether the EPO is the right tool for your situation, our team at Kanellos Legal is here to help.
Disclaimer
The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be applied to any particular legal matter or factual situation without consulting a qualified attorney. Kanellos & Associates makes no commitment to keep this information current and assumes no liability for any losses or damages arising from your reliance on the content provided herein.
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