This text provides a comparative overview for the 15 EU countries, of orders for payment and similar proceedings. Each country's practice in this area is described and analysed by a national expert distinguished in the field of civil procedural law. The contributions are written in either English, French, or German, and are followed by summaries in both remaining languages. Bibliographies are included to enable the reader to locate material for further study. Each national report addresses the following issues: sources of law and general principles of orders for payment and similar proceedings; fields of application; requirements for the issuance of an order for payment; objection, appeal, and other remedies against orders for payment; and res judicata, enforceability and other effects of orders for payment. A comparative contribution by the editors analyzes the similarities and differences between the various European systems. Further, the editors discuss attempts to harmonize the law of civil procedure, which range from various recommendations of the Council of Europe to the 1998 draft of the Late Payment Directive, and provide concrete suggestions for a future harmonization or unification of this area of the law.