European Union: Directive (EU) 2025/2647 amending Directive 2013/11/EU on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes entered into force with grace period

On 19 January 2026, Directive (EU) 2025/2647 entered into force, in accordance with Article 6, on 20 days following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 December 2025. National transposition of the Directive must occur by 20 March 2028 and become applicable by 20 September 2028. The Directive implements the amendments proposed by the European Commission on 17 October 2023 to Directive 2013/11/EU and Directives (EU) 2015/2302, (EU) 2019/2161 and (EU) 2020/1828, following the repeal of Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 and the discontinuation of the European Online Dispute Resolution Platform. From entry into force, the Directive establishes a revised 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 allowing participation of third-country traders directing activities towards the Union. It gives effect to obligations requiring traders to reply to alternative dispute resolution entities within 20 working days, simplifies reporting obligations for alternative dispute resolution entities, with a lack of reply being treated as refusal to participate, strengthens Member State obligations on accessibility, organisation, supervision and reporting, and activates coordination mechanisms involving competent authorities and designated alternative dispute resolution contact points, including within the European Consumer Centres Network. The Directive also mandates the development and maintenance by the European Commission of a multilingual digital interactive tool to support alternative dispute resolution in cross-border disputes.