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Alternative dispute resolution: reports and research

ADR / ODR report

The ADR Directive (2013/11/EU) and the ODR Regulation (No 524/2013) ensure access for EU consumers to out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms.

The European Commission assesses the application of the legal framework for consumer alternative dispute resolution and online dispute resolution established under these legal instruments.

The report is available in 23 EU languages. Click Download to select language and format required. 

  • 25 SEPTEMBER 2019
Implementation Report on the European Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)

Functioning of the ODR platform

In addition, the Commission reports annually on the functioning of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform since its launch in 2016.

The ODR platform helps consumers and traders resolve their disputes about online purchases without going to court - by connecting them with alternative (i.e. out-of-court) dispute resolution bodies.

  • 20 DECEMBER 2021
4th Report on the Functioning of the Online Dispute Resolution platform
  • 17 DECEMBER 2020
3rd Report on the Functioning of the Online Dispute Resolution Platform
  • 6 DECEMBER 2018
2nd Report on the Functioning of the Online Dispute Resolution Platform
  • 13 DECEMBER 2017
1st Report on the Functioning of the Online Dispute Resolution platform

Webscraping study

The Commission has also conducted research that examined the websites of 20,000 EU online traders and marketplaces to assess whether they comply with their legal obligation to put a link to the ODR platform and an email address on their website.

  • 1 DECEMBER 2017
Online dispute resolution webscraping report
  • 13 DECEMBER 2017
Online dispute resolution webscraping study: executive summary