Enforceability of the agreements reached in the European Union. Some reflections

Abstract

The legal system in Spain is undergoing a process of convergence with our neighboring countries in the European Union. Directive 52/2008 on mediation in civil and commercial matters has been recently transposed by the Law 5/2012, of July 6th. This is the first rule about civil and commercial mediation in the state level and it happens when mediation begin to be considered as an alternative to prosecution or via arbitration, as it involves a system of conflict resolution, that can help to get the right to judicial protection, keeping the Courts as a last resort andturning the citizen into active protagonist of the solution of their own conflict.This paper aims to analyze the questions about the mediation agreement in European Union, their enforceability and binding effects, the procedure to be followed or the effectiveness of the agreements reached therein.The gradual consolidation of mediation between legal operators involves reflection on the model adopted in our system, because this method has meant a great improvement in all Member States legal system. It is necessary to promote the culture of mediation to bring this institution to all sectors of society involved.