What Is the European Payment Order?
The European Payment Order (EPO) is a cross-border debt recovery mechanism established by Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. It came into force on 12 December 2008 and applies in all EU member states except Denmark.
The EPO allows creditors to obtain an enforceable court order for uncontested monetary claims against debtors located in a different EU member state — without appearing in court, without a lawyer, and without navigating a foreign legal system. Once issued, the order is automatically enforceable across all participating EU states under the same rules as a domestic judgment.
Who can use it: Any natural person or legal entity (sole trader, limited company, freelancer) holding an uncontested pecuniary claim against a debtor registered or residing in a different EU member state. "Uncontested" is the operative word — the EPO is not designed for disputed invoices.
Step-by-Step: The EPO Procedure
Step 1 — Complete Form A (the Application)
Form A is the EPO application form, available in all EU official languages at the European e-Justice Portal (e-justice.europa.eu). It has 9 key sections:
- Court with jurisdiction — typically the court in your country where you are domiciled or where the contract was to be performed
- Parties — full legal name, registered address, and identification numbers for both you and the debtor
- Cross-border nature of the case — confirm debtor is in a different EU member state
- Type of claim — contractual claim (tick "contract for services" for most freelance invoices)
- Amount claimed — principal debt, late payment interest (statutory rate or contractual rate), and recovery costs
- Interest — specify whether you claim statutory EU late payment interest (currently ECB base rate + 8 percentage points for B2B transactions) or a contractual rate
- Cause of action — brief description of the contract, services delivered, invoice issued, and payment not received
- Evidence — list the documents you are attaching (invoice, signed contract, delivery confirmation, email correspondence)
- Enforcement — confirm you want automatic enforcement if no opposition is filed
Attach your invoice, contract, and any email evidence showing the debt is undisputed.
Step 2 — File with Your Local Court
Submit Form A (and attachments) to the competent court in your own country — not the debtor's country. The court reviews the application within 30 days to check formal compliance. They do not assess the merits of the claim at this stage.
If the application is incomplete, the court issues Form B requesting clarification. If it does not meet the requirements, the court rejects it using Form D.
Step 3 — Court Issues the EPO (Form E)
If accepted, the court issues the European Payment Order using Form E and serves it on the debtor. Service is arranged through EU cross-border service channels — you do not need to organise service yourself.
Step 4 — The Debtor's 30-Day Opposition Window
The debtor has 30 days from the date of service to file a statement of opposition (Form F). During this window, three outcomes are possible:
- No opposition → EPO becomes automatically enforceable (proceed to Step 5)
- Partial opposition → EPO remains enforceable for the unopposed portion; contested portion converts to ordinary proceedings
- Full opposition → EPO lapses; case converts to ordinary civil proceedings (see FAQ below)
Step 5 — Automatic Enforcement Across the EU
If no opposition is filed, the EPO is declared enforceable using Form G. You can then present this to enforcement authorities (bailiffs, courts) in the debtor's country without any further proceedings. Under Article 21 of the Regulation, the order is enforced under the same conditions as a domestic judgment in the debtor's country.
Court Fees by Country
| Country | EPO Court Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0.5× GKG fee unit (min. €32) | Fee scales with claim value; most invoices under €5,000 cost €32–€119 |
| France | €35 flat | Fixed fee regardless of amount |
| Netherlands | ~€90 | Griffierecht (court registry fee) |
| Spain | €0 | No fee for EPO applications (as of 2025) |
| Poland | 5% of claim (min. PLN 30) | Relatively high for larger claims |
| Italy | €43 base | Contributo unificato applies |
EPO vs Other EU Debt Recovery Procedures
| Procedure | Best For | Cost | Time | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Payment Order (EPO) | Cross-border uncontested claims, any amount | €32–€90 | 6–10 weeks | Low |
| European Small Claims Procedure | Cross-border claims ≤ €5,000 | Similar court fees | 3–6 months | Low–Medium |
| German Mahnverfahren | Domestic DE claims, uncontested | €23–€78 | 4–6 weeks | Low |
| French injonction de payer | Domestic FR claims, uncontested | €33 | 4–8 weeks | Low |
| Ordinary civil litigation | Disputed, high-value, complex claims | €500–€5,000+ | 12–36 months | High |
Practical Tips for Freelancers
Use the EPO for invoices over €500. Below that amount, the administrative time to complete Form A and manage the process often exceeds the recovery value. For very small amounts, a formal demand letter or a debt collection agency referral is more efficient.
Always attach your contract and invoice. The EPO is a documentary procedure. Courts are more likely to process Form A swiftly when evidence is clear, complete, and organised.
Claim statutory late payment interest. Under the EU Late Payment Directive (2011/7/EU), you are automatically entitled to interest at the ECB base rate + 8 percentage points for B2B transactions from the day after the due date. Include this in your Form A — it increases the recovered amount and signals you know the law.
Claim the flat recovery fee. The Directive also entitles you to a minimum €40 recovery fee for claims under €1,000, €70 for claims €1,000–€9,999, and €100 for claims of €10,000 or more. Add this to your claimed amount in Form A.
Act at 60 days overdue, not 120. Debtors become harder to collect from as time passes. If a client in another EU country has not paid at 60 days overdue and is not responding, the EPO procedure should be your next step — not another polite email.
Real Timeline Example
A French web designer invoices a German startup €3,200 for a completed website. Invoice due date: 1 February 2026. No payment by 15 March 2026 (43 days overdue). The designer files EPO Form A at the Tribunal judiciaire in Paris on 18 March, paying a €35 court fee. The court processes the application and issues Form E on 12 April (25 days). The German startup receives service on 20 April. The opposition deadline is 20 May. No opposition is filed. The EPO is declared enforceable on 25 May. The designer presents it to a German Gerichtsvollzieher (bailiff) on 2 June. Total elapsed time: 76 days from filing. Total court cost: €35.
Before filing an EPO, calculate exactly what you are owed — including the statutory interest and flat recovery fee — so you claim the full amount on Form A. Use the Late Payment Calculator to get the precise figures for your invoice, country, and due date.