About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


10 ERA F. 1 (2009)

handle is hein.journals/erafrum10 and id is 1 raw text is: ERA Forum (2009) 10: 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s12027-009-0108-5 ELM QK AItIl Editorial ERA Forum 2009-1 Leyre Maiso Fontecha EUROP4IlCHE RECHTBAKADEMIE Published online: 28 February 2009 © ERA 2009 TRIER Abstract The current issue of ERA Forum gathers a series of articles, previously presented at ERA seminars, dealing with current topics of European consumer law, such as collective redress and the latest case law of the European Court of Justice, and of European social law, such as the Lisbon Treaty and Social Europe and anti- discrimination law. 1 Consumer protection 1.1 Collective redress A fierce debate is taking place on the issue of collective redress at EU level. With the aim of providing effective redress for consumers, the European Commission is exam- ining the potential of introducing collective redress mechanisms in the EU. It is often the problem that EU consumers refrain from taking legal action for small claims. This is due in particular to high litigation costs and complex and lengthy procedures. Through a collective redress system, small claimants affected by a single breach of the law would be able to join forces and bring a case before court to obtain redress and compensation. Such claims could even be brought by a third-party representative, who could for example be a consumer organisation. In its EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 of 13 March 20071, the Euro- pean Commission announced its intention to consider action on consumer collective L.M. Fontecha (C) Academy of European Law, Metzer Allee 4, 54295 Trier, Germany e-mail: Imaiso.era.prog l @era.int 1COM (2007) 99 final, 13.03.2007. C Springer