Introducing effective collective redress in the EU in view, for example, of the Volkswagen scandal is one of the priorities of Justice and Consumers Commissioner Vera Jourova before the end of her term of office (see EUROPE 11836). However, for this stated intention to be translated into reality further preparation is required, the Commission said on Wednesday 2 August.
The forthcoming initiative will be based on the assessment of the recommendation made by the Commission on 11 June 2013 on common principles for injunctive and compensatory collective redress mechanisms in the Member States concerning violations of rights granted under EU law.
“We are currently assessing the practical effects of a recommendation that we adopted in 2013 on collective redress. On this basis, we will look on the experience gathered until 26 July 2017. That is the deadline set in the recommendation. This assessment should be ready, in any case, before the end of the year. The consequences of the diesel scandal will be taken into account in the assessment”, spokesperson Mina Andreeva told the European press.
In 2013 the Commission restricted itself to merely recommending that the 28 member states adopt laws rather than introducing a binding measure that would require the states to put in place a uniform, EU-wide procedure. This soft management approach disappointed the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), particularly as, in 2012, the European Parliament had called for a consistent European approach to collective redress that would make it possible for citizens to have their right respected to compensation for collective damages. (Original version on French by Aminata Niang)