Collective Redress in Europe: Why and How?

Edited by: Eva Lein, Duncan Fairgrieve, Marta Otero Crespo and Vincent Smith

Published: March 2015

Page Extent: 550

Paperback

The European Commission Recommendation on Collective Redress (2013/396/EU) establishes a framework to ensure a coherent horizontal approach to collective litigation in the EU context without harmonising national systems. The Commission clearly aims at distinguishing collective redress in Europe from the North American class action approach.

This book explores the need for mass litigation mechanisms in Europe from a series of interdisciplinary perspectives (law and economics, behavioural sciences, and sociological and judicial perspectives). It also analyses the current collective redress landscape in Europe in light of the Commission Recommendation; this includes an assessment of national collective redress mechanisms; views from oversees on the present and future of collective litigation in Europe; commentary on various specific areas of collective redress including competition law, product liability and consumer protection; and the options for and relevance of collective ADR mechanisms.

The book is a useful tool for practitioners and academics with an interest in collective redress in Europe and overseas.

Dr Eva Lein, Dr Duncan Fairgrieve, Dr Marta Otero Crespo and Vincent Smith led the 'Focus on Collective Redress' project at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, funded for two years by the European Commission. It consisted of various events, research resulting in a comprehensive website on European Collective Redress (www.collectiveredress.org) and this publication, based on contributions by a network of academics and practitioners involved in the project.