European Union: European Parliament adopted Directive (EU) 2025/2647 amending Directive 2013/11/EU on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes

On 16 December 2025, the European Parliament adopted Directive (EU) 2025/2647 after agreeing to the Council's first reading position. The adoption followed the European Commission proposal of 17 October 2023 to amend Directive 2013/11/EU and Directives (EU) 2015/2302, (EU) 2019/2161 and (EU) 2020/1828, in response to the repeal of Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 and the discontinuation of the European Online Dispute Resolution Platform. The Directive restructures the Union framework for alternative dispute resolution by extending its material and geographical scope to disputes arising from contractual and pre-contractual obligations, including disputes concerning digital content and digital services and contracts where consumers provide personal data instead of a monetary price, and by enabling the participation of third-country traders directing activities towards the Union. It introduces an obligation for traders to reply to alternative dispute resolution entities within 20 working days, with a lack of reply being treated as refusal to participate, simplifies reporting obligations by reducing the frequency and scope of activity reports, strengthens Member State obligations concerning the accessibility, organisation, supervision and reporting of alternative dispute resolution entities, and establishes reinforced coordination mechanisms involving competent authorities and designated alternative dispute resolution contact points, including within the European Consumer Centres Network. The Directive also requires the European Commission to develop and maintain a multilingual digital interactive tool to support alternative dispute resolution in cross-border disputes. The Directive enters into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal, while national transposition must occur by 20 March 2028 and be applied by 20 September 2028.