The consumer field is widespread and often encompasses different legal fields on a single market, especially when it comes to the field of consumer protection. In fact, the consumer mostly remains a weaker party in resolving consumer disputes, especially in administrative proceedings. Traditional court proceedings do not always offer the most cost-appropriate way of resolving consumer disputes, because the damage with legal costs is disproportionate, especially in Small Claims (20 EUR). In theory, Alternative Dispute Resolution (hereinafter: ADR) is considered more flexible, faster and cheaper for disputes between consumers and businesses. Insofar, Consumer ADR (hereinafter: CADR) is seen as a useful tool that helps consumers realize their right of access to justice. It is argued that CADR systems provide valuable information on the needs of disputants, while preserving confidentiality, increasing consumer satisfaction, equality and grater trust. While CADR is praised in theory as an added value, in practice it still remains unrecognizable and therefore is seen as an ineffective formalism in some EU countries. It seems that consumers and businesses lack awareness of the CADR schemes and their benefits, which have effects on the efficient use of CADR in different public and private institutions. The focus of this paper is on the field of Public Administrative Law, which, through different approaches of scientific analysis, combines the main administrative aspects of CADR systems in the EU. Special attention is given to different administrative barriers in the development of various CADR schemes, which cause the formation of administrative dilemmas in some Member states. The new EU legal regulation on Consumer ADR, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and EU Administrative law have set flexible rules and principles that would assure the quality of dispute resolution between EU entities with private or public interests. Similarities in proposed principles would lead us closer towards a common European Administrative Space. However, so far such EU initiatives have left many questions unanswered regarding the supervision and financing of CADR schemes, as well as the administrative issues about the purely internal harmonization of “administrative” CADR practices in Member States. An example of the substantial administrative dilemmas in CADR practices, mostly in the field of universal services, can be recognized in existing CADR systems in selected EU countries, e.g. Slovenia and Croatia. POINTS FOR PRACTICIONERS: Special attention is paid to the interplay between the CADR and public administration in the EU, which introduces us to various definitions of the concept of CADR in administrative proceedings. The theoretical view shows that the parties in consumer dispute resolution produce various legal relationships (C2B/G or G/B2C, B2B or G2B) of different legal natures (public or private interests), whether under administrative or civil law. Through comparative analysis of the concept of CADR in administrative proceedings among selected EU countries, divergences are shown in the legal framework of CADR procedures, existing CADR schemes and measuring efficiency tools for CADR procedures, which causes key administrative dilemmas in the main sectors of universal services. Despite divergences, some similarities appear between new principles of proposed new EU regulation, which could lead us closer to a common European Administration law. Unfortunately, the statistical analysis of existing CADR cases in selected Member states indicates an inefficient use of these pledged mechanisms. The given guidelines and improvements with one coherent CADR model contribute to the achievement and pursuit of the set goals towards an efficient European Administrative space.
The purpose of this study is to present selected aspects of complex issues of transformations in the public administration system of Ukraine, and changes of administrative law in the context of the European integration process. The author, on the one hand, points to new possible duties of public administration bodies created by the European integration process, and, on the other hand, raises attention to new challenges facing the public administration reform, in particular in the candidate states to the European Union, such as Ukraine. The author establishes strong links between the public administration reform and the European integration process. It is of great importance if an aspiring EU member is to prepare its administration well for the challenges of EU membership.
The EU Member States are characterised by long and varied institutional history, with different trajectories in their evolution. There is a complex system of relations between the institutions of the European Union and the authorities of the Member States, which are called as the European Administrative Space. This is a multidimensional concept, and it promotes intensive cooperation between administrative actors, and their activities from each level. The European Administrative Space is the area, in which increasingly integrated administrations jointly exercise power delegated to the EU in a system of shared sovereignty. This article explores the reasons for and the consequences of this development.
PL
Państwa członkowskie UE charakteryzują się długą i zróżnicowaną historią instytucjonalną, z różnymi trajektoriami ich ewolucji. Istnieje niezwykle złożony system relacji między instytucjami Unii Europejskiej a organami publicznymi państw członkowskich, który nazywany jest europejską przestrzenią administracyjną. Jest to koncepcja wielowymiarowa, która obejmuje intensywną współpracę między organami administracji oraz ich działania na każdym poziomie. Europejska przestrzeń administracyjna to obszar, w którym organy administracji państw członkowskich we wzajemnej współpracy wykonują uprawnienia przekazane UE w ramach systemu wspólnej suwerenności (ang. shared sovereignty). Niniejszy artykuł bada przyczyny i konsekwencje rozwoju tego obszaru.
Państwa członkowskie UE charakteryzują się długą i zróżnicowaną historią instytucjonalną, z różnymi trajektoriami ich ewolucji. Istnieje niezwykle złożony system relacji między instytucjami Unii Europejskiej a organami publicznymi państw członkowskich, który nazywany jest europejską prze strzenią administracyjną. Jest to koncepcja wielowymiarowa, która obejmuje intensywną współpracę między organami administracji oraz ich działania na każdym poziomie. Europejska przestrzeń administracyjna to obszar, w którym organy administracji państw członkowskich we wzajemnej współpracy wykonują uprawnienia przekazane UE w ramach systemu wspólnej suwerenności (ang. shared sovereignty). Niniejszy artykuł bada przyczyny i konsekwencje rozwoju tego obszaru.
EN
The EU Member States are characterised by long and varied institutional history, with different trajectories in their evolution. There is a complex system of relations between the institutions of the European Union and the authorities of the Member States, which are called as the European Administrative Space. This is a multidimensional concept, and it promotes intensive cooperation between administrative actors, and their activities from each level. The European Administrative Space is the area, in which increasingly integrated administrations jointly exercise power delegated to the EU in a system of shared sovereignty. This article explores the reasons for and the consequences of this development.
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