The EU Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform, once seen a future cornerstone of cross-border consumer protection in the European Union, has officially been discontinued. The platform will be finally closed by 20 July 2025, and since 20 March 2025 new complaints cannot be submitted any longer. This development marks a significant shift in the landscape of online consumer rights and dispute resolution within the EU.
What Was the EU ODR Platform?
The EU Online Dispute Resolution Platform (ODR Platform) was set up in 2016 under the Regulation (EU) No 524/2013, as an alternative route to court for disputes arising from online sales or service contracts. The ODR Platform was designed as a user-friendly, multilingual online portal to help consumers and traders resolve disputes arising from online purchases. The platform aimed to facilitate out-of-court settlements by connecting parties with approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) bodies across the EU. It was particularly valuable for cross-border transactions, where language barriers and differing legal systems could otherwise complicate dispute resolution.
Why Was the ODR Platform Discontinued?
Following the EU Council’s decision dated 25 September 2024, and the Regulation (EU) 2024/3228 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024, the ODR Platform ceased to accept new complaints on 20 March 2025, and will be entirely discontinued on 20 July 2025. The decision to discontinue the ODR Platform was driven by several factors, including the following:
• Low Usage: Despite its potential, the platform saw limited uptake from both consumers and businesses. Many disputes continued to be resolved through traditional means or directly between parties. Only an average of 200 cases per year were forwarded to an ADR body, which is just 2% of complaints submitted across the EU.
• Administrative Challenges: Maintaining a multilingual, pan-European platform proved complex and resource-intensive.
• Evolving Digital Landscape: The rapid evolution of digital services has led to new expectations and needs for dispute resolution.
Reform of the Directive on Consumer ADR
The decision regarding the ODR Platform is linked with the Directive 2013/11/EU on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes (Directive on consumer ADR) that is undergoing significant reforms to enhance consumer rights and modernise out-of-court dispute resolution. The proposed changes include:
• Expanding the substantive scope by incorporating digital products, pre-contractual claims and non-contractual disputes such as discrimination or unfair commercial practices.
• Expanding the geographical scope to include traders outside the EU.
• Requiring businesses to provide written reasons for refusing to comply with ADR body decisions.
• Considering the development of a new ODR platform meeting current needs and standards.
What It Means for Businesses and Consumers?
Businesses should now remove any references to the ODR Platform (previously required under the Regulation) in their standard terms of purchase and/or websites, including hyperlinks to the ODR Platform website. Will the discontinuation of the ODR Platform have adverse consequences for consumers engaging in cross-border online shopping within the EU? The answer will depend on results of the review of the Directive on Consumer ADR (2013/11/EU). While the closure of the ODR Platform removes a centralized tool for resolving online disputes, consumers still have access to diverse mechanisms for seeking redress and will have to remain proactive to ensure their rights are protected in the evolving digital marketplace.
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