Proposal relating to certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters

Abstract

Better access to justice is one of the key objectives of the EU’s policy to establish an area of freedom, security and justice, where individuals and businesses should not be prevented or discouraged from exercising their rights by the incompatibility or complexity of legal and administrative systems in the Member States. The concept of access to justice should, in this context, include promoting access to adequate dispute resolution processes for individuals and business, and not just access to the judicial system.

The proposed directive contributes to this objective by facilitating access to dispute resolution through two types of provisions: first, provisions that aim at ensuring a sound relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings, by establishing minimum common rules in the Community on a number of key aspects of civil procedure. Secondly, by providing the necessary tools for the courts of the Member States to actively promote the use of mediation, without nevertheless making mediation compulsory or subject to specific sanctions.

Process

Commission Status

EU Parliament Status

EU Council Status

Additional Comments

09/08/2007 EESC opinion

Please Note: The status of each proposal is updated on a regular basis, as and when details are published by the various institutions. However, not all of these are good about publishing agendas and minutes in a timely fashion! If you require an update on the latest status of this proposal, please click the button below to send us an update request e-mail. Please remember to include the COM Number shown above.

Download full text of proposal (PDF):
Request current status update: