CHAPTER III

INFORMATION AND COOPERATION

Consumer information by traders
Article 13
1
Member States shall ensure that traders established on their territories inform consumers about the ADR entity or ADR entities by which those traders are covered, when those traders commit to or are obliged to use those entities to resolve disputes with consumers. That information shall include the website address of the relevant ADR entity or ADR entities.
2
The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be provided in a clear, comprehensible and easily accessible way on the traders’ website, where one exists, and, if applicable, in the general terms and conditions of sales or service contracts between the trader and a consumer.
3
Member States shall ensure that, in cases where a dispute between a consumer and a trader established in their territory could not be settled further to a complaint submitted directly by the consumer to the trader, the trader provides the consumer with the information referred to in paragraph 1, specifying whether he will make use of the relevant ADR entities to settle the dispute. That information shall be provided on paper or on another durable medium.

Assistance for consumers
Article 14
1
Member States shall ensure that, with regard to disputes arising from cross-border sales or service contracts, consumers can obtain assistance to access the ADR entity operating in another Member State which is competent to deal with their cross-border dispute.
2
Member States shall confer responsibility for the task referred to in paragraph 1 on their centres of the European Consumer Centre Network, on consumer organisations or on any other body.

General information
Article 15
1
Member States shall ensure that ADR entities, the centres of the European Consumer Centre Network and, where appropriate, the bodies designated in accordance with Article 14(2) make publicly available on their websites, by providing a link to the Commission’s website, and whenever possible on a durable medium at their premises, the list of ADR entities referred to in Article 20(4).
2
Member States shall encourage relevant consumer organisations and business associations to make publicly available on their websites, and by any other means they consider appropriate, the list of ADR entities referred to in Article 20(4).
3
The Commission and Member States shall ensure appropriate dissemination of information on how consumers can access ADR procedures for resolving disputes covered by this Directive.
4
The Commission and the Member States shall take accompanying measures to encourage consumer organisations and professional organisations, at Union and at national level, to raise awareness of ADR entities and their procedures and to promote ADR take-up by traders and consumers. Those bodies shall also be encouraged to provide consumers with information about competent ADR entities when they receive complaints from consumers.

Cooperation and exchanges of experience between ADR entities
Article 16
1
Member States shall ensure that ADR entities cooperate in the resolution of cross-border disputes and conduct regular exchanges of best practices as regards the settlement of both cross-border and domestic disputes.
2
The Commission shall support and facilitate the networking of national ADR entities and the exchange and dissemination of their best practices and experiences.
3
Where a network of ADR entities facilitating the resolution of cross-border disputes exists in a sector-specific area within the Union, Member States shall encourage ADR entities that deal with disputes in that area to become a member of that network.
4
The Commission shall publish a list containing the names and contact details of the networks referred to in paragraph 3. The Commission shall, when necessary, update this list.

Cooperation between ADR entities and national authorities enforcing Union legal acts on consumer protection
Article 17
1
Member States shall ensure cooperation between ADR entities and national authorities entrusted with the enforcement of Union legal acts on consumer protection.
2
This cooperation shall in particular include mutual exchange of information on practices in specific business sectors about which consumers have repeatedly lodged complaints. It shall also include the provision of technical assessment and information by such national authorities to ADR entities where such assessment or information is necessary for the handling of individual disputes and is already available.
3
Member States shall ensure that cooperation and mutual information exchanges referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 comply with the rules on the protection of personal data laid down in Directive 95/46/EC.
4
This Article shall be without prejudice to provisions on professional and commercial secrecy which apply to the national authorities enforcing Union legal acts on consumer protection. ADR entities shall be subject to rules of professional secrecy or other equivalent duties of confidentiality laid down in the legislation of the Member States where they are established.