News

In a landmark ruling (ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2026:1344), the District Court of The Hague held that the Netherlands failed to meet its climate obligations under Article 8 ECHR. The judgment notably requires the inclusion of aviation and maritime emissions in national climate accountability, signalling a major shift in how state responsibility is defined.

On 26 January 2026, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal authorised a £656 million opt-out collective action against Valve Corporation to proceed to trial. The claim alleges anti-competitive practices linked to Steam, the dominant PC gaming platform, and is brought on behalf of up to 14 million UK consumers who purchased PC games or related content.

The Scottish Civil Justice Council consultation on introducing an opt-out regime for civil claims closed on 23 January 2026. The proposal would allow group claims without active consent from class members and could extend beyond competition law, potentially transforming the litigation landscape in Scotland and influencing wider UK civil procedure.

Luxembourg adopts its new Consumer Protection Law implementing the EU Representative Actions Directive, introducing a three-step collective redress procedure.

On July 22, 2025, UFC filed France’s first group action over defective Takata airbags, targeting Stellantis. The lawsuit follows the immobilisation of 1.7 million vehicles and seeks compensation for financial losses and emotional distress. The first court hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2025.

Decree No. 2025-734, published on August 1, 2025, sets out new rules for class actions in France. It introduces procedural updates and a public register, completing the transposition of EU Directive 2020/1828 on collective consumer redress.

Decree No. 2025-653 of July 16, 2025, designates the competent courts for class action cases in France, aiming to improve access to justice and streamline collective legal procedures.