Segnalazione dalla DG Concorrenza

Towards a coherent European approach to collective redress

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on collective redress. This follows a Joint Information Note of Vice-Presidents Almunia and Reding and Commissioner Dalli on the need for a coherent European approach to Collective Redress

The purpose of this consultation is, among other things, to identify common legal principles on collective redress in the EU. The consultation also explores in which fields different forms of collective redress could have an added value for improving the enforcement of EU legislation or for better protecting the rights of victims.

In 2008 the Commission issued a White Paper on damages actions for breach of the EC antitrust rules. This suggests specific policy options and measures to overcome the many difficulties that victims of EU antitrust infringements are faced with when seeking redress, including standing of victims in court, the availability of evidence and the quantification of damages. In the White Paper, the Commission had already underlined the need for effective collective redress to enable all victims of infringements of EU competition rules to obtain full compensation for the harm they suffered. The results of this public consultation will therefore allow the Commission to further develop its policy on private enforcement of the EU competition rules.

Given its importance for EU competition policy, we invite all our stakeholders to participate in this public consultation.

The results of the public consultation will allow the Commission, as foreseen in its work programme for this year, to adopt a Communication on the topic. The common legal principles set out in that Communication will guide any possible future initiative for collective redress in EU legislation.

The deadline for comments is 30 April 2011 >> Go to consultation