FAIRCOMADR

The European Union grant of the Budapest Conciliation Board 

The title of the project: “Fostering the awareness of fair commercial practices through ADR tools within Hungary (101146134 — SMP-CONS-2023-ADR I FAIRCOMADR)

Duration: 24 months (15.04.2024.–14.04.2026.)

Professional manager: Budapest Conciliation Board (BCB) - Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)

Summary

The Budapest Conciliation Board is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forum which helps consumers and businesses to settle their consumer disputes out of court since 1 January 1999. 

The chief aim of the project titled “Fostering the awareness of fair commercial practices through ADR tools within Hungary” to be implemented through European Union funding is to encourage consumers to use the alternative dispute resolution procedure instead of lengthy litigation in the course of their potential consumer dispute.

We intend to achieve this through a campaign tailored to the needs of a segmented target audience and with several educational modules both at the level of consumers – (1) children and young people, (2) pensioners, (3) people of active (working) age –, and at the level of businesses as well.

We are convinced that these procedures, in addition to having a favorable effect on the willingness of enterprises to cooperate, can reduce the incidence of unfair commercial practices and increase consumer’s trust in businesses and consumer protection organizations.

General Objectives of the Project

• Increase awareness of the Budapest Conciliation Board,
• Easier access to conciliation,
• Fostering a closer relationship between consumers and businesses,
• Shaping a conscious consumer attitude,
• Implementing consumer-targeted educational programs,
• Promoting law-abiding behavior and willingness of businesses to cooperate and encouraging their participation in conciliation board procedures,
• Reducing the number of non-cooperating businesses,
• Supporting AVR-networks, organizing domestic conciliation boards into national and EU networks,
• Strengthening relationships among Hungarian conciliation boards, assisting the 8 regional presidents in their work,
• Professional training of the members of the BCB.

Target Groups and Undertaken Programs of the Project

• consumers: (1) children and young people, (2) pensioners, (3) people of active working age (WP3) – 9 educational programs/lectures,
• businesses, service providers (WP4) – 4 conferences/workshops,
• members and employees of the Budapest Conciliation Board (WP5) – 2 conferences/workshops,
• county conciliation boards (WP5) – 2 conferences/workshops.