European Union: Closed consultation on the Commission proposal for the review of the ADR framework for consumers

On 20 December 2023, the European Commission closed the consultation on its proposal to review the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework aiming to simplify rules on out-of-court dispute resolution to adapt them to digital markets by explicitly covering a broad range of EU consumer rights. In particular, the proposal aims to expand the scope of the ADR Directive to non-EU traders, addressing unfair practices like manipulative interfaces, manipulative advertising, or geo-blocking rules. It also seeks to enhance the use of ADR by consumers and traders in cross-border disputes through the use of digital tools. In addition, it will improve customer assistance through measures such as the creation of national contact points to facilitate communication between consumers and traders.