44. Stresses that ADR and ODR mechanisms cannot substitute a collective redress mechanism; calls, therefore, on the Commission to explore measures that would lead to the creation of a Union-wide coherent collective redress mechanism in the field of consumer protection which would be applicable to cross-border cases; stresses that uncoordinated initiatives within the Union could lead to fragmentation; emphasises that, in order to ensure the efficiency of c ...[+++]ollective redress and avoid potential abuses, the Union approach to collective redress should include representative action only in the case of entities duly recognised at national level (public authorities such as ombudsmen, or consumer organisations); insists on the need to build the Union approach to collective redress on the opt-in principle;

45. Stresses that ADR and ODR mechanisms cannot substitute a collective redress mechanism; calls, therefore, on the Commission to explore measures that would lead to the creation of a Union-wide coherent collective redress mechanism in the field of consumer protection which would be applicable to crossborder cases; stresses that uncoordinated initiatives within the Union could lead to fragmentation; emphasises that, in order to ensure the efficiency of c ...[+++]ollective redress and avoid potential abuses, the Union approach to collective redress should include representative action only in the case of entities duly recognised at national level (public authorities such as ombudsmen, or consumer organisations); insists on the need to build the Union approach to collective redress on the opt-in principle;

The Member States should ensure that judicial collective redress mechanisms are accompanied by appropriate means of collective alternative dispute resolution available to the parties before and throughout the litigation.

The Member States should ensure that it is possible for the representative entity or for the group of claimants to disseminate information about a claimed violation of rights granted under Union law and their intention to seek an injunction to stop it as well as about a mass harm situation and their intention to pursue an action for damages in the form of collective redress.

15. Takes the view that access to justice by means of collective redress comes within the sphere of procedural law and is concerned that uncoordinated EU initiatives in the field of collective redress will result in a fragmentation of national procedural and damages laws, which will weaken and not strengthen access to justice within the EU; calls, in the event that it is decided after detailed consideration that a Union scheme of collective redress is needed and desirable, for any proposal in the field of collective redress to take t ...[+++]he form of a horizontal framework including a common set of principles providing uniform access to justice via collective redress within the EU and specifically but not exclusively dealing with the infringement of consumers' rights;

the European approach to collective redress must be founded on the opt-in principle, whereby victims are clearly identified and take part in the procedure only if they have expressly indicated their wish to do so, in order to avoid potential abuses; underlines the need to respect existing national systems, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity; calls on the Commission to consider a system which will provide relevant information to all potential victims involved, increase the representativeness of collective actions, allow for the largest number of victims to seek compensation and ensure ...[+++] simple, affordable and effective access to justice for EU citizens, thereby avoiding excessive litigation and subsequent unnecessary individual or collective actions concerning the same infringement; calls on the Member States to put in place efficient mechanisms ensuring that as many victims as possible are informed and made aware of their rights and obligations, in particular when they are domiciled in several Member States, whilst avoiding unduly harming the reputation of the party concerned, in order to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence;