Mediation and the EU
The European Commission has emphasised the need to apply the EU Directive on Mediation in national situations:
Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice said: "I call on Member States to be ambitious in putting the EU rules on mediation in place swiftly: the bare minimum is to allow cross-border disputes to find amicable settlements. But why stop there? Why not make the same measures available at national level? In the end, it is citizens and businesses, societies and economies, and the legal system itself that will benefit."
The commission goes on to say: “The EU Mediation Directive applies when two parties who are involved in a cross-border dispute voluntarily agree to settle their dispute using an impartial mediator. Member States are to make sure mediated agreements can be enforced. According to a recent EU-funded study, the time wasted by not using mediation is estimated at an average of between 331 and 446 extra days in the EU, with extra legal costs ranging from €12,471 to €13,738 per case.
Mediation can solve problems between businesses, employers and employees, landlords and tenants, or families, so that they can maintain and even strengthen their relationship in a constructive way – a result that cannot always be achieved through court proceedings. Settling disputes out of court spares justice systems' resources and can potentially cut legal costs.”
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