On 27 June 2025, the National Assembly finally approved at second reading amendments to the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), introducing a mandatory information session on mediation for certain civil and commercial cases, including family law disputes. This marks a long-awaited and strategically important victory for the National Network for Children (NNC), which has consistently advocated for this reform over the years.
What do the changes entail?
Following the adopted amendments, parties involved in 11 categories of cases—including disputes over parental responsibility, the child’s place of residence, personal relations with the child (including arrangements for contact with grandparents), maintenance, division of property, and divorce—will be required by the court to attend an information session on mediation within an appropriate timeframe before the first open court hearing.
During the information session, a mediator from the court centre will “inform the parties about the nature and principles of mediation, the procedure for conducting it, the role of the mediator, and its consequences” (Article 13, paragraph 1 of the CPC).
Several exemptions are provided, where parties may be excused from attending the mandatory information session—for instance, if evidence of violence or risks to the life, health, or best interests of the child has been presented in the case.
What is the purpose of the mandatory information session?
The aim is not to impose mandatory mediation (which was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in July 2024), but to ensure that parties are genuinely informed about the opportunities and benefits of mediation, as well as the costs, time, and effort it may save them in practice.
Following this briefing on the procedure, they may voluntarily decide whether to proceed with formal mediation or continue resolving the dispute through the court process.
When voting on the bill in the National Assembly, the Minister of Justice emphasised to deputies that this is one of the measures addressing slow justice and court overload, giving citizens a chance to resolve disputes quickly, economically, and in a mutually acceptable manner.
What incentives are provided?
To encourage settlements through mediation, the following incentives are foreseen:
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50% reimbursement of the state fee for agreements reached during the proceedings;
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70% reimbursement for court-approved mediated settlements;
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85% reimbursement for settlements following the information session and mediation at the court centre.
You can review a copy of the adopted bill here.
What is the position of the National Network for Children?
The National Network for Children submitted a positive opinion on the bill prior to the second reading, firmly supporting the proposed amendments. In their statement, the NNC emphasised that this represents partial adoption of the Italian model, which has long served as inspiration for their systemic advocacy efforts.
In several consecutive editions of their monitoring report, the “Report Card,” the NNC has repeatedly recommended the introduction of mandatory information sessions or mandatory mediation in family disputes, focusing on the child’s best interests and preventing escalation of family conflicts.
What comes next?
This change represents a step forward towards a more dialogical and child-centred approach to resolving family disputes. It is the result of years of effort by the mediation community, human rights organisations, and the active civic stance of many parents. The National Network for Children remains an active partner in drafting secondary legislation and procedural standards for implementing the new framework.
