Class Actions In France: The Future Is Still Uncertain

We might as well just say it: France's version of the class action procedure has been disappointing so far. Only twenty class actions have been brought since the 2014 Hamon Law first introduced the possibility in France, and none have led to the defendant being held liable. In reaction to this rather unflattering record, a bill was presented to the National Assembly on 15 September 2020, ambitiously entitled "a new set of rules for class actions". However, there has been no legislative follow-up since then.

With the EU Directive on consumer class actions that was adopted on 25 November 2020, surely Europe offers the most likely forum for reviving the class action. Member States now have until 25 December 2022 to transpose the Directive and until 25 June 2023 to put it into effect.