BETA


2011/2026(INI) Implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead JURI MCCARTHY Arlene (icon: S&D S&D)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 142-p2

Events

2012/01/30
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2011/09/13
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2011/09/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2011/09/13
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 633 votes to 20, with 10 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts.

Parliament recalls that the objective of Directive 2008/52/EC is to promote the amicable settlement of disputes by encouraging the use of mediation and by ensuring a balanced relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings. Member States are required to comply with this Directive before 21 May 2011 with the exception of Article 10.

So far the majority of Member States have reported that they have completed the implementation process or will complete it by the deadline. Only a few Member States have not yet reported compliance with the Directive’s provisions: the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

In its resolution, Parliament looked at how Member States transposed the main provisions of the Directive regarding the possibility for the courts to suggest mediation directly to the parties (Article 5), the guarantee of confidentiality (Article 7), the enforceability of agreements resulting from mediation (Article 6) and the effect of mediation on limitation and prescription periods (Article 8).

Members consider that Member States are, as a whole, largely on track to implement Directive 2008/52/EC by 21 May 2011 . While Member States are using varied regulatory approaches and some are a little behind, the fact remains that most Member States are not only compliant, but are in fact ahead of the Directive’s requirements, particularly in two areas, namely financial incentives for participation in mediation and mandatory mediation requirements.

The resolution observes that some European states have undertaken a number of initiatives to provide financial incentives to parties who refer cases to mediation: in Bulgaria, parties will receive a refund of 50% of the state fee already paid for filing the dispute in court if they successfully resolve a dispute in mediation, and Romanian legislation provides for full reimbursement of the court fee if the parties settle a pending legal dispute through mediation. Alongside the financial incentives, certain Member States whose judicial systems are overburdened have resorted to rules making recourse to mediation compulsory. The most striking example is Italian Legislative Decree No 28, which aims in this way to overhaul the legal system and make up for the notoriously congested Italian courts by reducing caseloads and the nine-year average time to complete litigation in a civil case.

Members note that national initiatives of this type help to make dispute resolution more effective and reduce the courts’ workload. The results achieved in particular in Italy, Bulgaria and Romania prove that mediation can bring about a cost-effective and quick extrajudicial resolution of disputes through processes tailored to the needs of the parties.

Highlighting the consumer-friendly features of alternative dispute resolution schemes, which offer a tailored practical solution, Members call for the prompt presentation of a legislative proposal on alternative dispute resolution by the Commission . The Commission is also encouraged, in its forthcoming Communication on the implementation of Directive 2008/52/EC, also to examine those areas where Member States have chosen to extend the measures of the Directive beyond its intended scope.

The resolution recommends :

increasing awareness and understanding of mediation, and further action relating to education, growing awareness of mediation, enhancing mediation uptake by businesses and requirements for access to the profession of mediator; encouraging national authorities to develop programmes in order to promote adequate knowledge of alternative dispute resolution.

Lastly, Parliament recognises the importance of establishing common standards for accessing the profession of mediator in order to promote a better quality of mediation and to ensure high standards of professional training and accreditation across the Union.

Documents
2011/09/13
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2011/07/15
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2011/07/15
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2011/07/11
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Arlene McCARTHY (S&D, UK) on the implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts. It recalls that the he objective of Directive 2008/52/EC is to promote the amicable settlement of disputes by encouraging the use of mediation and by ensuring a balanced relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings. Member States are required to comply with this Directive before 21 May 2011with the exception of Article 10. So far the majority of Member States have reported that they have completed the implementation process or will complete it by the deadline. Only a few Member States have not yet reported compliance with the Directive’s provisions: the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

In its report, the committee looked at how Member States transposed the main provisions of the Directive regarding the possibility for the courts to suggest mediation directly to the parties (Article 5), the guarantee of confidentiality (Article 7), the enforceability of agreements resulting from mediation (Article 6) and the effect of mediation on limitation and prescription periods (Article 8).

Members consider that Member States are, as a whole, largely on track to implement Directive 2008/52/EC by 21 May 2011 . While Member States are using varied regulatory approaches and some are a little behind, the fact remains that most Member States are not only compliant, but are in fact ahead of the Directive’s requirements, particularly in two areas, namely financial incentives for participation in mediation and mandatory mediation requirements. The report notes that national initiatives of this type help to make dispute resolution more effective and reduce the courts’ workload. The results achieved in particular in Italy, Bulgaria and Romania prove that mediation can bring about a cost-effective and quick extrajudicial resolution of disputes through processes tailored to the needs of the parties.

Highlighting the consumer-friendly features of alternative dispute resolution schemes, which offer a tailored practical solution, Members call for the prompt presentation of a legislative proposal on alternative dispute resolution by the Commission . The Commission is also encouraged, in its forthcoming Communication on the implementation of Directive 2008/52/EC, also to examine those areas where Member States have chosen to extend the measures of the Directive beyond its intended scope.

The report recommends :

increasing awareness and understanding of mediation, and further action relating to education, growing awareness of mediation, enhancing mediation uptake by businesses and requirements for access to the profession of mediator; encouraging national authorities to develop programmes in order to promote adequate knowledge of alternative dispute resolution.

Lastly, the report recognises the importance of establishing common standards for accessing the profession of mediator in order to promote a better quality of mediation and to ensure high standards of professional training and accreditation across the Union.

2011/06/22
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2011/05/23
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2011/02/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2010/10/27
   EP - MCCARTHY Arlene (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in JURI

Documents

AmendmentsDossier
18 2011/2026(INI)
2011/06/22 JURI 18 amendments...
source: PE-467.215

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2011-02-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: JURI date: 2010-10-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Legal Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: MCCARTHY Arlene
  • date: 2011-07-11T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: JURI date: 2010-10-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Legal Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: MCCARTHY Arlene type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2011-07-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2011-275&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0275/2011 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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JURI
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committee_full
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docs
  • date: 2011-05-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE462.583 title: PE462.583 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2011-06-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE467.215 title: PE467.215 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2011-07-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2011-275&language=EN title: A7-0275/2011 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-01-30T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=20442&j=0&l=en title: SP(2011)8668 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2011-02-17T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2011-07-11T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Arlene McCARTHY (S&D, UK) on the implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts. It recalls that the he objective of Directive 2008/52/EC is to promote the amicable settlement of disputes by encouraging the use of mediation and by ensuring a balanced relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings. Member States are required to comply with this Directive before 21 May 2011with the exception of Article 10. So far the majority of Member States have reported that they have completed the implementation process or will complete it by the deadline. Only a few Member States have not yet reported compliance with the Directive’s provisions: the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland and Sweden. In its report, the committee looked at how Member States transposed the main provisions of the Directive regarding the possibility for the courts to suggest mediation directly to the parties (Article 5), the guarantee of confidentiality (Article 7), the enforceability of agreements resulting from mediation (Article 6) and the effect of mediation on limitation and prescription periods (Article 8). Members consider that Member States are, as a whole, largely on track to implement Directive 2008/52/EC by 21 May 2011 . While Member States are using varied regulatory approaches and some are a little behind, the fact remains that most Member States are not only compliant, but are in fact ahead of the Directive’s requirements, particularly in two areas, namely financial incentives for participation in mediation and mandatory mediation requirements. The report notes that national initiatives of this type help to make dispute resolution more effective and reduce the courts’ workload. The results achieved in particular in Italy, Bulgaria and Romania prove that mediation can bring about a cost-effective and quick extrajudicial resolution of disputes through processes tailored to the needs of the parties. Highlighting the consumer-friendly features of alternative dispute resolution schemes, which offer a tailored practical solution, Members call for the prompt presentation of a legislative proposal on alternative dispute resolution by the Commission . The Commission is also encouraged, in its forthcoming Communication on the implementation of Directive 2008/52/EC, also to examine those areas where Member States have chosen to extend the measures of the Directive beyond its intended scope. The report recommends : increasing awareness and understanding of mediation, and further action relating to education, growing awareness of mediation, enhancing mediation uptake by businesses and requirements for access to the profession of mediator; encouraging national authorities to develop programmes in order to promote adequate knowledge of alternative dispute resolution. Lastly, the report recognises the importance of establishing common standards for accessing the profession of mediator in order to promote a better quality of mediation and to ensure high standards of professional training and accreditation across the Union.
  • date: 2011-07-15T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2011-275&language=EN title: A7-0275/2011
  • date: 2011-09-13T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=20442&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2011-09-13T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20110913&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2011-09-13T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2011-361 title: T7-0361/2011 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 633 votes to 20, with 10 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts. Parliament recalls that the objective of Directive 2008/52/EC is to promote the amicable settlement of disputes by encouraging the use of mediation and by ensuring a balanced relationship between mediation and judicial proceedings. Member States are required to comply with this Directive before 21 May 2011 with the exception of Article 10. So far the majority of Member States have reported that they have completed the implementation process or will complete it by the deadline. Only a few Member States have not yet reported compliance with the Directive’s provisions: the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland and Sweden. In its resolution, Parliament looked at how Member States transposed the main provisions of the Directive regarding the possibility for the courts to suggest mediation directly to the parties (Article 5), the guarantee of confidentiality (Article 7), the enforceability of agreements resulting from mediation (Article 6) and the effect of mediation on limitation and prescription periods (Article 8). Members consider that Member States are, as a whole, largely on track to implement Directive 2008/52/EC by 21 May 2011 . While Member States are using varied regulatory approaches and some are a little behind, the fact remains that most Member States are not only compliant, but are in fact ahead of the Directive’s requirements, particularly in two areas, namely financial incentives for participation in mediation and mandatory mediation requirements. The resolution observes that some European states have undertaken a number of initiatives to provide financial incentives to parties who refer cases to mediation: in Bulgaria, parties will receive a refund of 50% of the state fee already paid for filing the dispute in court if they successfully resolve a dispute in mediation, and Romanian legislation provides for full reimbursement of the court fee if the parties settle a pending legal dispute through mediation. Alongside the financial incentives, certain Member States whose judicial systems are overburdened have resorted to rules making recourse to mediation compulsory. The most striking example is Italian Legislative Decree No 28, which aims in this way to overhaul the legal system and make up for the notoriously congested Italian courts by reducing caseloads and the nine-year average time to complete litigation in a civil case. Members note that national initiatives of this type help to make dispute resolution more effective and reduce the courts’ workload. The results achieved in particular in Italy, Bulgaria and Romania prove that mediation can bring about a cost-effective and quick extrajudicial resolution of disputes through processes tailored to the needs of the parties. Highlighting the consumer-friendly features of alternative dispute resolution schemes, which offer a tailored practical solution, Members call for the prompt presentation of a legislative proposal on alternative dispute resolution by the Commission . The Commission is also encouraged, in its forthcoming Communication on the implementation of Directive 2008/52/EC, also to examine those areas where Member States have chosen to extend the measures of the Directive beyond its intended scope. The resolution recommends : increasing awareness and understanding of mediation, and further action relating to education, growing awareness of mediation, enhancing mediation uptake by businesses and requirements for access to the profession of mediator; encouraging national authorities to develop programmes in order to promote adequate knowledge of alternative dispute resolution. Lastly, Parliament recognises the importance of establishing common standards for accessing the profession of mediator in order to promote a better quality of mediation and to ensure high standards of professional training and accreditation across the Union.
  • date: 2011-09-13T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/ title: Migration and Home Affairs commissioner: REDING Viviane
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  • Implementation
  • See also Directive 2008/52/EC 2004/0251(COD)
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Home Affairs
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  • date: 2011-02-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: JURI date: 2010-10-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Legal Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: MCCARTHY Arlene
  • date: 2011-07-11T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: JURI date: 2010-10-27T00:00:00 committee_full: Legal Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: MCCARTHY Arlene type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2011-07-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2011-275&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0275/2011 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2011-09-13T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=20442&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20110913&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2011-361 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0361/2011 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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reference
2011/2026(INI)
title
Implementation of the directive on mediation in the Member States, its impact on mediation and its take-up by the courts
legal_basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 132-p2
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Procedure completed
subtype
Implementation
Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
type
INI - Own-initiative procedure
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7.40.02 Judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters