There has been much debate about whether a US-style class action system will ever truly arrive in the UK and across Europe. Opinions in Europe are extremely varied, with some member states actively trying to lay the framework for group litigation. In March 2007 the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Meglena Kuneva, announced the European Union’s (EU’s) Consumer Strategy 2007-13. She states: “I do not have in mind the US type of class action. This is not a John Grisham story. We have another, European, narrative and this is much more related to collective redress.”
With the EU considering implementing an EU-wide system of collective redress, it seems the class action, even if not in US form, could be a step closer. This article will outline the current picture across Europe and assess the potential impact if a US-style system were ever to find a foothold here.
