EU representative actions: legal framework and competencies of the ZEV
The Centre for European Consumer Protection (Zentrum für Europäischen Verbraucherschutz e. V., ZEV) has been a central contact point for consumers with cross-border legal problems for more than 30 years. Recognised as a qualified entity for EU representative actions, ZEV can now also take legal action against unfair business practices of foreign companies and collectively enforce consumer interests.
Over 30 years of experience in cross-border consumer protection
The Centre for European Consumer Protection has been helping consumers with cross-border legal issues since 1993. It focuses on prevention and out-of-court assistance.
The free activities of the ZEV include in particular:
- Advice on specific consumer problems on the Franco-German border
- Advice and out-of-court assistance in disputes with a company in another EU Member State, Iceland, Norway or the United Kingdom through the European Consumer Centres (ECC) in Germany and France.
- Advice on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Europe
- Contact point for Franco-German legal issues ("Justice without borders").
In 2024, the ZEV received almost 50,000 consumer enquiries.
The role of ZEV as an organisation for collective actions in Europe
The ZEV has been authorised as a qualified entity for collective redress in Germany since 2023 (§ 4 UKlaG).
Directive (EU) 2020/1828 on EU representative actions and the corresponding national implementation by the Representative Action Directive Implementation Act (VRUG) also created the possibility of cross-border representative actions. To date, ZEV is the only institution in Germany authorised to conduct cross-border representative actions. ZEV is included in the official list of the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) as a qualified entity according to § 4d UKlaG.
This means that ZEV is able to bring actions for injunctions and redress in other EU countries in order to combat unfair and unlawful practices by companies and to enforce the claims of affected German consumers.
Cooperation with other consumer protection organisations
ZEV works closely with other consumer protection organisations, including the Consumer Centres (Verbraucherzentralen)- qualified national enforcement bodies - and the European Consumer Centre (ECC) Germany. This cooperation makes it possible to represent the interests of consumers in a targeted manner and to pursue infringements of consumer rights more efficiently.
Funding of actions
ZEV's enforcement activities are financed exclusively from public funds; ZEV does not pursue a profit motive. ZEV is politically neutral and exclusively committed to the interests of consumers.
When exactly does the ZEV get involved?
ZEV investigates consumer complaints and can take action against companies that violate consumer rights. Examples of relevant infringements are
- Illegal terms and conditions
- Non-transparent or misleading website design
- Subscription traps or unclear cancellation procedures
- Violations of EU consumer protection rules
Conclusion: Strengthening consumer rights in the long term
The possibility to bring representative actions at EU level contributes to the cross-border enforcement of consumer rights. Effectively tackling unfair business practices across national borders strengthens consumer rights in the long term and promotes the long-term improvement of consumer protection in Europe.
Further explanation of our new role
The Centre for European Consumer Protection is a qualified entity for cross-border representative actions under § 4 d UKlaG and a qualified consumer association under § 4 UKlaG.
In this capacity, it acts exclusively in the interests of the consumers concerned.
ZEV will take collective action only against traders. The aim is to prevent them from violating consumer protection laws and to ensure that any losses incurred are compensated. The starting point is always ZEV's own investigations or consumer complaints that lead the ZEV staff to believe that the law has been broken.
In order to avoid any possible conflict with the interests of third parties who finance procedures under Directive (EU) 2020/1828, the ZEV undertakes to use only public funds to finance measures under Directive (EU) 2020/1828.
The Board of the Association has signed a voluntary commitment to comply with these conditions.
In accordance with § 10, paragraph 1 of the Association's Statutes, the Supervisory Board, as the controlling body, monitors the Board's compliance with the voluntary commitment and the use of funds. In particular, it has the right to demand information from the Board and to inspect files. The Board's actions are approved by the General Meeting in accordance with Article 8 b) of the Articles of Association. The funds are managed under a separate cost centre in accordance with the grant conditions of the public donors and are audited by them.
An overview of ZEV's income and expenditure in the institutional budget and project expenditure can be found in the current annual report.
Read more about the benefits for consumers of representative action in the EU.
