European Union's mediation patterns. An overview of EU members' trust level and mediation practice

Author : Dr. Mizser Csilla Ilona

Abstract : There are numerous ways in every country for individuals to resolve their conflicts and legal disputes. Since 2008, the European Union has provided a regulated framework for one such method of conflict resolution—mediation—to all its member states. Looking back over the past decades, we can now examine the extent to which citizens in these member states are aware of and utilize this option. This study aims to explore the level of trust member states place in European Union institutions, as well as the confidence they show in their own countries' elected decision-makers. Is there a correlation between citizen trust in the European Union and the state, on the one hand, and the uptake of mediation, on the other? Or, conversely, does greater trust in the state perhaps lead to higher confidence in the justice system? This article seeks to draw conclusions based on research from Eurobarometer, European Justice, and the OECD, and to offer insights that can further develop the theoretical framework of mediation.

Keywords : Mediation, European Commission, member state regulations, alternative dispute resolution, interest-based negotiation techniques.

Conference Name : International Conference on Human Rights, Violence, and Crisis Management (ICHRVCM - 26)

Conference Place : Marrakesh, Morocco

Conference Date : 22nd Oct 2026