Guides
Collective Redress in CEE & SEE
2024 Edition of the Collective Redress Guide
Welcome to this guide on Collective Redress across the Wolf Theiss region (CEE and SEE). A range of collective redress mechanisms can be found in each of the jurisdictions covered by our offices. While some countries already have well-developed collective redress mechanisms in place, other countries are only just beginning to implement comprehensive collective redress regimes.
Partly due to pressures from the European Union, important steps have been taken in recent years throughout the region to protect collective consumer interests. For example, the Representative Actions Directive (EU) 2020/1828 established a harmonised framework for collective redress in all EU Member States. This directive aims to strengthen consumer rights by making it easier to bring collective actions before the courts, such as in cases of data protection violations and infringements of consumer protection law by companies. The directive has supported a trend towards a greater adoption and pursuit of collective actions in CEE and SEE.
There are clear signs of increased activity in collective redress in CEE and SEE going forward. Several factors suggest that collective redress will become more important in the coming years and will likely continue to expand, supported by new regulations, developing interest in consumer protection and technological innovations. Collective redress mechanisms will further develop, and more harmonised rules of procedure will emerge. At the same time, countries with less established collective redress systems are catching up.
Whether you are a business owner facing collective legal action, an investor evaluating legal exposure in light of consumer protection activism in particular jurisdictions or an in-house counsel trying to best protect your company’s interests ahead of time, this guide serves as a valuable map to navigate you through the complexities of the various collective redress mechanisms available across the Wolf Theiss region.
Disclaimer
This Wolf Theiss Collective Redress Client Guide is intended to serve as a practical overview of the general principles and features of collective redress mechanisms in the countries included in the publication.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the content is accurate at the time of its completion, it should be used only as a general reference guide and should not be relied upon definitively when planning or making definitive legal decisions. This guide cannot substitute dedicated legal advice on specific matters. In these rapidly changing legal markets, laws and regulations are frequently revised, either by amending legislation or by statutory interpretation. Neither Wolf Theiss nor any of the authors accept any kind of liability for the accuracy and completeness of the content of this guide. Therefore, any kind of liability on the part of Wolf Theiss or the authors is explicitly excluded.
Status of information: Current as of October 2024
You can download the entire guide below. Individual country-specific chapters are also available for download in the respective country sections
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