14/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Implementation of the directive on mediation in the member states. The European Parliament (EP) concluded on Tuesday 13 September that most member states comply with, and even go beyond, the requirements set out in Directive 2008/52.EC on mediation. The aim of this directive is to promote amicable settlement of disputes by encouraging the use of mediation and by ensuring a balanced relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings. In adopting the report by Arlene McCarthy (S&D, UK) by 633 votes to 20, with 10 abstentions, the EP observes that the results achieved in particular in Italy, Bulgaria and Romania prove that mediation can bring about a “cost-effective and quick extrajudicial resolution” of disputes through processes tailored to the needs of the parties. Parliament notes, too, that compulsory mediation appears to be achieving its objective in the Italian legal system by relieving congestion in the courts. (L.C./transl.rt)