The definitive impetus for access to justice: Mandatory consumer arbitration in Spain

Abstract

The purpose of the following paper is to address the relevance of consumer arbitration as an effective procedural justice mechanism within the EU internal market. Thus, the article focuses on the possibility of introducing a mandatory consumer arbitration system in Spain that allows consumers to exercise their rights recognized by the rules in a fast, efficient and free way. For this purpose, the Portuguese consumer arbitration system and its evolution up to the establishment of a mandatory arbitration procedure for consumer disputes below a certain amount is also analysed.