Europese Overeenkomst inzake de afschaffing van legalisatie van stukken opgemaakt door diplomatieke of consulaire ambtenaren

For the purposes of this Convention, legalisation means only the formality used to certify the authenticity of the signature on a document, the capacity in which the person signing such document has acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which such document bears.

Cet article, qui donne une définition de la légalisation utilise la même terminologie que celle qui figure à l'article 2 de la Convention de La Haye supprimant l'exigence de la légalisation des actes publics étrangers.
A l'instar de la Convention précitée, s'agissant de la signature, le mot „véracité” a été utilisé aux lieu et place du mot „authenticité” car ce dernier terme souvent employé pour définir la force probante particulière de certains actes pouvait prêter à confusion, s'agissant du sceau, le mot „identité” a également été utilisé aux lieu et place du mot „authenticité” pour la même raison.
Les mots „ne recouvre que” mettent l'accent sur la portée de la Convention qui ne supprime que la légalisation au sens strict. La légalisation ne porte donc que sur les trois éléments expressément énoncés audit article. Elle ne vise pas, à la différence de la conception de certains Etats, la compétence du signataire ou la validité de l'acte.
Le mot la „signature” ne couvre pas le simple paraphe ou la griffe, c'est-à-dire la signature non manuscrite reproduite par un procédé polygraphique quelconque; il en découle que tout acte qui contient uniquement une griffe ne tombe pas sous le champ d'application de la Convention.
Il convient de remarquer que la „légalisation” recouvre également la formalité par laquelle est attestée l'identité du sceau ou du timbre. En effet, à l'instar de la Convention de La Haye, la légalisation du sceau a été ajoutée à celle de la signature pour satisfaire aux exigences de certains pays. Un acte non signé mais portant un sceau, ou un timbre en tenant lieu, paraphé ou non, tombe également dans le champ d'application de la Convention.

1. This Convention shall apply to documents which have been executed by diplomatic agents or consular officers of a Contracting Party, acting in their official capacity and exercising their functions in the territory of any State, and which have to be produced:
a. either in the territory of another Contracting Party, or
b. to the diplomatic agents or consular officers of another Contracting Party exercising their functions in the territory of a State which is not a party to this Convention.
2. This Convention shall also apply to official certificates, such as those recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date, and authentications of signatures, appended by diplomatic agents or consular officers to documents other than those referred to in paragraph 1.

Each Contracting Party shall exempt from legalisation documents to which this Convention applies.

1. Each Contracting Party shall take the measures necessary to avoid the carrying out by its authorities of legalisations in cases where this Convention abolishes legalisation.
2. Each Contracting Party shall provide for the verification, where necessary, of the authenticity of the documents to which this Convention applies. Such verification shall not give rise to payment of any taxes or expenses and shall be carried out as quickly as possible.

This Convention shall, as between the Contracting Parties, prevail over the provisions of any treaties, conventions or agreements which provide, or shall provide, for legalisation of the authenticity of the signature of a diplomatic agent or consular officer, the capacity in which such person signing the document has acted, and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears.

1. This Convention shall be open to signature by the member States of the Council of Europe. It shall be subject to ratification or acceptance. Instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2. This Convention shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of the third instrument of ratification or acceptance.
3. In respect of a signatory State ratifying or accepting subsequently, the Convention shall come into force three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification or acceptance.

Ces dispositions reproduisent les clauses finales telles qu'elles ont été approuvées par le Comité des Ministres.

1. After the entry into force of this Convention, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may invite any State not a Member of the Council of Europe to accede to this Convention.
2. Such accession shall be effected by depositing with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe an instrument of accession which shall take effect three months after the date of its deposit.

1. Any Contracting Party may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, specify the territory or territories to which this Convention shall apply.
2. Any Contracting Party may, when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession or at any later date, by declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend this Convention to any other territory or territories specified in the declaration and for whose international relations it is responsible or on whose behalf it is authorised to give undertakings.
3. Any declaration made in pursuance of the preceding paragraph may, in respect of any territory mentioned in such declaration, be withdrawn according to the procedure laid down in Article 9 of this Convention.

1. This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely.
2. Any Contracting Party may, in so far as it is concerned, denounce this Convention by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
3. Such denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such notification.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council and any State which has acceded to this Convention of:
a. any signature;
b. any deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession;
c. any date of entry into force of this Convention;
d. any declaration received in pursuance of the provisions of Article 8;
e. any notification received in pursuance of the provisions of Article 9 and the date on which denunciation takes effect.