On 4 February, the European Commission launched a public consultation “Towards a more coherent European approach to collective redress”. Contributions can be sent until 30 April.

Press release
Consultation paper and background

Commission launches public consultation on collective redress

The Commission, as a public authority and the guardian of the EU Treaties, enforces EU law. In parallel, individuals and business can seek enforcement of their rights under EU law in national courts. In some cases, the violation of EU law may trigger multiple individual lawsuits. The Commission’s public consultation will attempt to identify common legal principles that should underpin collective actions across the EU (such as the need for effectiveness and efficiency, information for citizens and safeguards against abusive litigation).

CONSULTATION ON CONSUMER COLLECTIVE REDRESS

The main purpose is to identify common legal principles on collective redress. The consultation should help examine how such common principles could fit into the EU legal system and into the legal orders of the 27 EU Member States.To read the consultation document, click here

Consultation period: 4 February 2011 to 30 April 2011
Purpose of the consultation: The main purpose is to identify common legal principles on collective redress. The consultation should help examine how such common principles could fit into the EU legal system and into the legal orders of the 27 EU Member States.
See the consultation paper
How to submit your contribution: Comments should be submitted preferably by e-mail to:
EC–collective-redress@ec.europa.eu

Background

The Commission has worked for several years on developing European standards of collective redress in the field of consumer and competition law. The Commission adopted a Green Paper on antitrust damages actions in 2005 and a White Paper in 2008 , both of which include a chapter on collective redress. In 2008, the Commission also published a Green Paper on consumer collective redress. Vice-President Reding, Vice-President Almunia and Commissioner Dalli discussed the challenges of collective redress at the Commission meeting on 12 October 2010 during an orientation debate. The result of this debate is the public consultation launched today.

More details:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/redress_cons/collective_redress_en.htm

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There is currently also a consultation open on ADRs. Details below:

Consumer affairs consultations

The use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a means to resolve disputes related to commercial transactions and practices in the EU

Policy activity: Consumer affairs

Consultation period: 18 January 2011 to 15 March 2011

Target group: All citizens and organisations can contribute.

Purpose of the consultation:
The purpose is to consult on the difficulties identified in relation to ADR and the ways to improve the use of ADR in the EU.

Stakeholders and public authorities are invited to provide their feedback on the issues, preferably backed with concrete examples and/or figures.

See the consultation paper.