Regulating Mediator Qualifications in the 2008 EU Mediation Directive: The Need for a Supranational Standard

This paper will illustrate how the regulation of mediator training and the implementation of minimum qualification levels will help the Directive have a longterm impact in six parts. Part II will briefly examine mediation in an international law context. Part III will discuss the history of the Directive and pertinent provisions of the Directive. Part IV will address the recent situation in Italy, with a particular focus on the opposition to Legislative Decree 28, mandatory mediation, and the perceived lack of mediator qualifications.

Part V will examine the current mediator trainings and qualification standards that are required in other selected Member States in order to demonstrate the need for uniform guidelines for mediator trainings and qualifications in the EU and offer possible suggestions to align mediator qualifications throughout the EU. Part VI provides conclusive remarks.