1. Lithuanian Presidency Event: "Priority Trends of the Consumer Protection in the EU" Panel 2: "The impact of the ADR Directive and the ODR Regulation on the functioning of the Single Market" Christoph Decker DG SANCO/B4 Vilnius, 3 October 2013

2. Potential of ADR far from being realised: - insufficient ADR coverage - uneven and often insufficient quality levels - insufficient consumer and business awareness Baseline scenario Negative impact on Single Market ADR in the European Union today uneven level of protection of consumer rights competitive disadvantage of businesses in territories/sectors where ADR is not available lack of consumer and business confidence in shopping and selling in the internal market cross-border online commerce develops slowly For disputes below 500 EUR, consumers usually do not go to court (expensive, long and cumbersome)

3. Access to ADR entities and procedures Harmonised high level of quality ADR awareness Establishment of a European online platform (ODR platform) for disputes arising from online sales or service contracts ("buy online – settle your dispute online") ADR/ODR legislation: approach and impact ADR Directive ODR Regulation What the new legislation brings Indirect impact fast and cost-effective dispute settlement mechanisms consumer savings amount to EUR 20 billion even level of protection of consumer rights GROWTH higher productivity of European businesses GROWTH consumer and business confidence sustained level of consumption GROWTH