MEPs called upon to ensure availability of collective redress to members of the public harmed by breaches of EU law

In April this year, the EU Commission published a proposal for a new Directive on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers. Prepared in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal, the proposal would establish a possibility for consumers to bring a collective action where they are harmed because a company violates EU law.

In the form proposed by the Commission, the Directive fails, however, to encompass all cases of harm that actually affect Europeans, specifically as regards environmental harm.

In this position paper, ClientEarth and European Coalition for Corporate Justice are therefore calling upon MEPs to broaden the scope of the proposal and ensure availability of collective redress to members of the public harmed by breaches of EU law.