Press Release: Commission recommends Member States to have collective redress mechanisms in place to ensure effective access to justice

The European Commission on 11 June 2013 set out a series of common, non-binding principles for collective redress mechanisms in the Member States so that citizens and companies can enforce the rights granted to them under EU law where these have been infringed. The Recommendation aims to ensure a coherent horizontal approach to collective redress in the European Union without harmonising Member States' systems.

National redress mechanisms should be available in different areas where EU law grants rights to citizens and companies, notably in consumer protection, competition, environment protection and financial services. By recommending to Member States to put in place national collective redress mechanisms the Commission wants to improve access to justice, while ensuring appropriate procedural guarantees to avoid abusive litigation.

The Recommendation complements the proposal for a Directive on antitrust damages which will help the victims of violations of antitrust rules to obtain compensation through the legal actions available in Member States. While the Recommendation calls on Member States to put in place collective redress mechanisms, the Directive leaves it to Member States whether or not to introduce collective redress actions in the context of private enforcement of competition law.

ESO: Background Information: Antitrust: Commission proposes legislation to facilitate damage claims by victims of antitrust violations http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1180431

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/530: Frequently Asked Questions: European Commission recommends collective redress principles to Member States http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-530_en.htm

EurActiv, 11.06.13: EU seeks group lawsuit rules amid ‘litigation culture’ fears http://www.euractiv.com/health/eu-seeks-group-lawsuit-rules-ami-news-528486

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