While the French legal regime for group actions, known as “actions de groupe,” has been in place for over a decade, its complexity and restrictive nature mean that only dozens of cases have been filed, with just a single one resulting in a final judgment of liability against a defendant. Despite this lack of success, hope for reform lies in a draft bill before the French legislature that aims, among other things, to incorporate the EU Representative Actions Directive into national law.
Unfortunately, progress has been slower than expected with the implementation lagging over a year behind schedule due to disagreements between the two legislative chambers. The legislative delay is not without its consequences. Lawyers attest that the ongoing stalemate has resulted in a significant stall in group actions and litigation funding.
Recognizing the importance of this matter to professionals involved in or tracking France’s legal proceedings, especially with regards to class action litigation and legislative developments, further details on the ongoing situation can be found in the March 2024 report from Law.com International.