The year 2008 was important for the development of class actions, or collective redress, across Europe. In spring the European Competition Commission published its white paper on damages for breach of competition law. During the summer the Civil Justice Council (CJC) quietly published its preliminary recommendations on ‘Improving Access to Justice through Collective Actions’, with a final report published at the end of November having no material changes to its recommendations. Finally, the European Commission (DG Consumer Affairs) published its green paper on consumer collective redress in November.
Debate and reform is now taking place at a European-wide level and within member states in an attempt to provide better and more affordable access to justice through collective redress.
