European Union – Civil and commercial matters. The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of arts 5(1)(a), 5(3) and 15(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 (on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters). The request had been made in proceedings between Mr Kolassa, domiciled in Vienna (Austria), and Barclays Bank plc, established in London (United Kingdom), concerning an action for damages based on the contractual, precontractual, tortious or delictual liability of that bank as a result of the loss in value of a financial investment made by Mr Kolassa through a financial instrument issued by that bank.