Collective Rights in Europe

How are collective rights addressed in Europe? This book examines this question, looking at collective or class action procedures, in the European Union and selected Member States, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. It shows the tension between collective rights and principles of autonomy and fundamental individual rights. This book looks at how EU law, though unifying in nature, does allow for extensive diversity in the recognition and enforcement of collective or solidarity rights across member states. It goes on to explore questions of enforcement. It reveals varying approaches to the question across member states, despite the EU’s harmonization objectives. A fascinating insight into an increasingly important category of rights.