On 17 December 2024, the European Parliament definitively adopted the repeal of the regulation on the European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform. This platform, created in 2013, allowed consumers and traders to resolve cross-border disputes related to online purchases amicably. It will be permanently closed.
The European ODR platform was established by Regulation (EU) No 524/2013. Its aim was to facilitate the out-of-court resolution of disputes between consumers and sellers when making online purchases in another EU country. However, its use remained very low: less than 2% of European consumers used it. In 2023, the European Commission proposed its repeal, considering that maintenance costs were no longer justified and that other tools, such as national mediation procedures, were more effective.
Parliament approved the Council's position, which repeals the 2013 regulation and amends two other regulations:
The decision was taken without a roll-call vote (show of hands or approval without individual count).
The legislative resolution was adopted. No voting figures are available as it was a procedure without a roll-call vote.
In practice, from the entry into force of the new regulation, the European ODR platform will no longer be accessible. Consumers who encounter a problem with an online purchase in another EU country will have to turn to national remedies:
For traders, this means they will no longer be required to include a link to the European platform on their website. However, they must continue to comply with national obligations regarding mediation.
This decision simplifies the European legal framework, but it also reduces a free and multilingual recourse option. Citizens are advised to contact their national consumer centre to find out about available alternatives.