Инициативи

The Professional Association of the Mediators in Bulgaria (PAMB) arranged its first specialized training on ADR approach to consumer disputes on 2 July. The training was designed in accordance with Regulation No 2 under the Mediation Act providing the guidelines for specialized upgrading trainings for certified mediators. Accomplished with the participation of experts from the ECC – Net (Bulgaria) and the Consumer Protection Commission it covered basics on the consumer disputes as well the Directive 2013/11/EU on ADR consumers disputes

(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:165:0063:0079:EN:PDF)

and Regulation (EU) No 524/2013

(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:165:0001:0012:EN:PDF)

both published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 18.6.2013 and entering into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication, i. e. July 8.

Though covering only part of the possible disputes between business (that of traders) and natural persons (that of consumers) these two interlinked and complementary legislative instruments are expected to boost out-of-court ADR instruments on the whole and in particular mediation.

The Directive 2013/11/EU transposition, pending in Member States (9 July 2015) raises many issues to consider:

Problem:

• Poor and not consistent self-regulatory framework for mediators’ profession;
• Lack of common quality indicators of mediation services.

Solution:

• To analyse existing regulatory and self-regulatory approaches in order to  introduce common criteria for the sustainable quality of mediation profession, taking into account, inter alia, standards for initial and continuous training accreditation and certification, complaint mechanisms against mediators and other relevant aspects;
• To identify abovementioned best practice modes;
• To consider setting up appropriate independent and representative bodies in each country, such as chambers of mediators or similar bodies with self-regulatory powers concerning mediation profession.