Subject-matter and scope
Article 1
1. This Regulation establishes a procedure to authorise a Member State to amend an existing agreement or to negotiate and conclude a new agreement with a third country, subject to the conditions laid down in this Regulation. This procedure is without prejudice to the respective competencies of the Community and of the Member States. 2. This Regulation shall apply to agreements concerning matters falling, entirely or partly, within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility ( 4 ) and Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations ( 5 ) , to the extent that those matters fall within the exclusive competence of the Community. 3. This Regulation shall not apply if the Community has already concluded an agreement with the third country concerned on the same subject-matter.