Enforcing EU consumer policy more effectively: a three-pronged approach

Abstract

This chapter analyses the new EU legal framework for enforcing consumer law through three prongs: public enforcement bodies, judicial mechanisms and out-of-court redress schemes. Accordingly, it starts with an examination of the cooperation of public enforcement authorities through pan European Networks. It then critically analyses the changes affecting two key judicial procedures for consumers (the European small claims procedure and collective redress), and lastly it evaluates the new framework on ADR outlining. The chapter argues that only a holistic approach with consumer ADR at its core and that sufficiently interconnects the three prongs will offer consumers an effective enforcement system that ensures a high level of consumer protection.