Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis article considers the functions of transparency in regulating consumer contract terms in the UK and Australia. The discussion is set in the context of EU level regulation with various references to civil law approaches. The main issue explored here is the extent to which transparency is capable of legitimizing substantively unfair terms. However, I also exploreotherroles that may be played by transparency and the extent to which these are facilitated in the UK and Australia.

Abstract: This article takes it to be vital to decide whether the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Directive provides a version of access to justice that is suitably sensitive to the consumer market. The Directive is deficient in this regard, at least to the extent that it does not make ADR processes mandatory or binding for businesses. Nevertheless, if Member States choose mandatory and binding processes, this may be compatible with the fundamental right to judicial protection, if emphasis is placed on efficiency benefits. If they choose voluntary processes/non-binding decisions, success will depend partly on incentives, sanctions, and monitoring at EU and Member State levels. Résumé: Cet article juge primordial d'evaluer si la directive est a meme d'offrir un acces a la justice qui soit adapte aux particularites des consommateurs. A cet egard, la directive s'avere lacunaire, au moins dans la mesure ou elle ne rend pas la procedure REL (reglement extrajudiciaire des litiges) obligatoire ou contraignante pour les professionnels. Cependant,le choix par les Etats membres d'une procedure obligatoire et contraignante pourrait etre compatible avec le droit fondamental a la protection juridictionnelle, si l'accent est mis sur les avantages de l'efficacité. Si les Etats membres optent pour une procedure volontaire ou des decisions non contraignantes, le succes du systeme dependra en partie des incitations, des sanctions ainsi que du controle au niveau tant de l'UE que des Etats membres.