Cross-border alternative dispute resolution in the European Union

This study identifies barriers to the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) schemes by consumers in the EU, especially in cross-border cases. It assesses other legislation relevant for consumer redress: the European Small Claims Procedure, the Injunctions Directive and the Mediation Directive. In section three, a number of case studies of ADR schemes with cross-border coverage are presented; also, three examples of EU-wide networks and services (ECC-Net, FIN-NET and SOLVIT). Finally, the study examines ways to improve the effectiveness of cross-border ADR and the usefulness of a European legal instrument.