European Payment Order: A direct and effective measure in the lender’s arsenal and the efficient defense of the debtor

European Payment Order (EPO) is a legal instrument within the European Union (EU) that aims to simplify and expedite cross-border debt recovery proceedings for uncontested monetary claims. The EPO simplifies the enforcement process by providing a unified procedure and removing the requirement for exequatur (the process of obtaining a court’s recognition of a judgment in another jurisdiction). The present article examines the conditions for issuing the European Payment Order and the possibilities for defense therein, understanding which contributes crucially to the consolidation of the institution’s unique characteristics, as well as the protection of the creditor who wishes to use this specific means.