Brussels, 28/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 September, the Commission decided to bring Cyprus and the Netherlands before the Court of Justice of the EU and inflict upon them a daily fine of €6,758.40 for Cyprus and €70,553.60 for the Netherlands in the event of a decision in its favour for the countries' failure to transpose the rules on access to justice in cross-border disputes, it has announced in a press release. The so-called “Mediation” directive (in civilian and commercial matters) applies when both parties to a cross-border dispute freely agree to settle their dispute through recourse to an impartial mediator. Adopted in April 2008, the deadline for its transposition was set at 21 May 2011.
“Settling disputes and disagreements through courts is often costly and time-consuming. Cross-border disputes are particularly complex due to different national laws and practical matters like costs or language. Under the rules of the Directive, member states have to ensure that mediated agreement can be enforced”, the Commission continues. According to a study financed by the EU, time wasted by not using mediation has been estimated at an average of between 331 and 446 additional days, on top of extra court costs of between €12,471 and €13,738 per case. (SP/transl.fl)