Online mediation is carried out on the Internet in a variety of manners.
Technology is responsible for augmenting an additional dimension to mediation, namely a fourth party. The fourth party is the type of software employed during the process. The informal and flexible nature of mediation is exemplified further with online mediation as parties enter the cyber-office for online mediation
It is a general truth that international markets are more than ever accessible to all potential consumers. Especially in Europe, where there are no additional taxes for the movement of goods and services, the consumers have on line access to α big number of websites and products. This facilitation given to the consumers to purchase in an easy way products from the different countries of the EU created difficulties relating to disputes arisen between the provider and the consumer.
The European Council, having regard to the above problem, presented one really interesting, accessible and low-cost solution for the consumers and edited the Regulation (EU) numb. 524-2013 and the Directive 2013-11-EU. The Online Dispute Resolution was presented in 2013 through the above legislation.
1. The Directive 2013/11/EE applies to the out-of court resolution of disputes concerning contractual obligations stemming from on line sales or service contracts between a consumer resident in the Union and a trader established in the Union through the intervention of an ADR entity. The Directive is applied to all on line and conventional consumer transactions at European Level. It applies to complaints submitted by consumers against traders relating to all conventional disputes in all kinds of consumption (i.e travel, bank transactions etc) and in every member of the EU.
2.The Regulation 524/2013 for the Online Dispute Resolution allows consumers and traders of the EU to submit their disputes arising from on line transactions to alternative dispute resolution through an interactive platform. The consumers can submit their complaints with direct access at the ODR platform at the preferred language of proceedings.
Member States have to enter into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive by 9 July 2015 and the Regulation 524/2013 shall apply from 9 January 2016.