The European Commission (EC) launched a public consultation on the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practices and related business transactions within the European Union. The purpose is to increase consumer confidence in shopping in the single market ensuring easier, faster and cheaper out-of-court mechanisms to resolve disputes between consumers and traders. This consultation which runs until 15 March will be followed by a public hearing at the European Parliament in late spring of 2011 to shape the Commission´s the legislative proposal in November.
Four major issues are addressed in this consultation: awareness of consumers and businesses to alternative means of dispute resolution, involvement of traders / suppliers, ADR systems coverage (geographic and sector-specific) and financing. All interested parties should submit their comments, preferably by electronic form to sanco-consumer-adr@ec.europa.eumailto:sanco-consumer-adr@ec.europa.eu or otherwise in writing to:
European Commission
“Consultation on ADR”
Directorate-General Health and Consumers
Avenue de Bourget 1-3
B-1140 Brussels (Evere)
Belgium
Further information:
- Consultation Paper On the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution as a means to resolve disputes related to commercial transactions and practices in the European Union http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dgs_consultations/ca/docs/adr_consultation_paper_18012011_en.pdf
- Consumers: Cheaper, faster, easier ways to settle disputes without going to court http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/45&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
