Ministry of Justice/ Suur-Ameerika 1/ 10122 Tallinn / ESTONIA/ +372 620 8100 /fax +372 620 8109/
info@just.ee / www.just.ee
Reg.no 70000898
Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskond
karin.sein@ut.ee
Kaarli puiestee 3
10119 Tallinn
Letter of Endorsement
The Ministry of Justice of Estonia, represented by Heddi Lutterus, hereby confirms the intention to
support and participate in the research project „Protecting consumers in consumer credit contracts in
the times of financial crisis“, envisaged by the research team of the University of Tartu. The proposed
study will analyse how the rights of consumers with consumer and mortgage credit contracts are
protected in the context of the financial crisis, where many consumers in default are subject to
enforcement proceedings. It examines whether and how the principle of responsible lending is able to
prevent consumer over-indebtedness, what forbearance measures are used in practice to protect
defaulting consumers and how consumer rights are protected in case of refinancing. It also assesses
whether and to what extent there is a case for extending consumer credit regulation to micro-credit,
deferred payments and platform lending. Finally, it will look at techniques used to the detriment of
consumers in case of debt recovery.
We would like to support the proposal submitted to the Estonian Research Council and use their
scientific results when making choices on the transposition of the new Consumer Credit Directive in
Estonia. The Ministry of Justice of Estonia expresses its interest in participating in the stakeholders’
seminar planned within the framework of the project and meetings with the research team.
Yours sincerely,
Heddi Lutterus
Deputy Secretary General
Legislative Policy Department
Ministry of Justice
Republic of Estonia
Kaidi Urgas +372 58664334
Kaidi.Urgas@just.ee
Our Ref: 21.03.2024
No 10-4/2889-1