Access to Justice within European Union and Globalized Market

Abstract

European consumers attract different attention, from the perspective of the European legislator, when their right to access to justice is at stake, in relation to the international dispute which may affect them. A protection which, clearly granted when the situation is connected to the European internal market, generates doubts in relation to situations which are external to the UE, which have multiplied after the irruption of the Information Society. In this respect, this article aims at, firstly, underline this situation of an unbalanced protection in this field, in relation to both access to national justice (international jurisdiction rules) and Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms (i.e. mediation and arbitration). Moreover, this article also offers specific proposals which, apart from highlighting the importance of international codification in relation to this topic, mentions the different options available to the European legislator which could favor the access to justice to consumers when they participate in the global market.