Brussels, 19/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper on the alternative ways of resolving disputes under civil and commercial law. The document takes stock of the way Member State practice methods of out-of-court settlement of disputes, conducted by a third party, except for the arbitration strictly speaking, which is already very regulated. Although there are many sector-specific initiatives, especially for electronic commerce, for consumer law and family law, there is no detailed framework regulation. Denmark, Italy, Austria and Portugal have undertaken a task together. The European Commission asks 21 questions: What problems would justify Community action in this matter? What should be done for family law? Should the legislation of the different Member States be approximated, how, and using what binding force? What recognition is there for an out-of-court settlement in another Member State? The Commission also asks whether the appropriate instrument is a regulation, a directive or recommendations. Denmark will organise a seminar on this question in June, announced the Commission. All the contributions may be sent by 15 October to JAI-coop-jud-civil@cec.eu.int. The Green Paper should be published very rapidly on website: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/off/green/index_fr.htm The European Commission is to organise a public hearing early 2003.