We’re proud to share that on April 7th, 2025, the President of Ius Omnibus, Maria José Azar-Baud, took part in the prestigious international conference “Representative Actions in the EU: Practical Experiences & the Protection of Vulnerable Social Groups”, hosted by Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest.
This conference brought together leading academics, practitioners, and policy experts from across Europe to engage in a critical dialogue on the implementation and future potential of the EU Directive on representative actions. Organized by Professors Viktória Harsági (Pázmány Péter Catholic University) and Stefaan Voet (KU Leuven), the event offered a platform to exchange national experiences, explore best practices, and assess the effectiveness of collective redress mechanisms, particularly in safeguarding the rights of vulnerable populations.
In her intervention, titled “Representative Actions for the Protection of Special Categories of Personal Data Rights Regarding Women and Children”, Maria José Azar-Baud contributed unique insights grounded in her extensive work on collective redress and consumer protection. She explored the potential of representative legal actions as powerful tools not only for consumer advocacy, but also for the broader enhancement of fundamental rights.
Drawing on current legal trends and regulatory developments, she introduced the emerging concept of “digital fundamental consumers’ rights”, a framework that reflects the increasingly intertwined nature of digital realities and personal freedoms. She emphasized the urgent need for a genuinely horizontal legal mechanism that extends beyond the traditional scope of consumer protection, one that is capable of safeguarding fundamental rights in a holistic and inclusive manner.
Her remarks underscored the essential role of representative actions in ensuring that fundamental rights, particularly those of vulnerable groups such as women and children, are not only recognized but effectively protected in the digital age. By advocating for structural reforms and forward-thinking legal instruments, she added a vital and forward-looking dimension to the conversation on collective redress in the European context.
This contribution directly aligns with the mission of Ius Omnibus to promote and defend the rights of European consumers through collective actions, including representative actions as outlined in EU Directive 2020/1828. The work developed by the association is specifically aimed at making the fundamental rights of consumers more effective, especially in a rapidly evolving digital context, and ensuring that the collective interests of citizens are protected in courts in an efficient and equitable manner.
The President’s participation in this international conference contributes to Ius Omnibus’s active positioning in the European legal debate on the most effective mechanisms for safeguarding consumers and their fundamental rights.
We extend our sincere thanks to the organizers for curating such a meaningful and thought-provoking event, and for creating a space where legal innovation and social justice could meet.
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