As the Representative Action Directive enters into force, France will have to adopt a cross-border mechanism and expand the scope of entities qualified to bring consumer class actions.

The European Parliament has endorsed a new directive on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers (the Representative Action Directive). The Representative Action Directive, endorsed on November 24, 2020, will enter into force 20 days following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will repeal and replace Directive 2009/22/EC on injunctions for the protection of consumers’ interests. Member States must adopt and publish provisions necessary to comply with the Representative Action Directive within 24 months, and then begin enforcing the directive within 30 months.