Spanish Government and Canary Islands Collaborate to Enhance Consumer Dispute Resolution

Overview

The Spanish government has officially renewed its collaboration with the Canary Islands' regional authorities to strengthen consumer dispute resolution through arbitration. An agreement signed on June 4, 2025, establishes that the Junta Arbitral de Consumo—Canaries' Consumer Arbitration Board—will prioritize resolving complaints from local consumers, focusing on their legal rights and protections.

Objectives and Benefits

• Make conflict resolution faster, more accessible, and less formal.
• Help residents settle disputes with businesses without lengthy court proceedings.
• Clarify that the collaboration involves no financial costs for either side.
• Emphasize transparency, public awareness, and a smoother resolution process.

Cooperative Efforts

• Both parties commit to ongoing cooperation.
• Share information.
• Provide technical and legal support to enhance the system's effectiveness.

Significance

"This initiative aims to make conflict resolution faster, more accessible, and less formal, helping residents settle disputes with businesses without lengthy court proceedings."

• The agreement replaces a previous 2021 agreement, marking a step forward in institutional cooperation to defend consumer rights.
• For expats living in the Canary Islands, this promises a more streamlined channel to address grievances, ensuring their consumer rights are better protected.

Impact

• Emphasizes transparency and public awareness.
• Facilitates a smoother resolution process that could greatly improve everyday consumer experiences on the islands.