Beyond de-politicization, which can cut a lot of different ways, the other factor in acrimony-reduction is the European social safety net. The EU legal system doesn't have to be the tool of last resort to the same extent as in the American style.
What do you mean by the "European social safety net"?
The legal system should normally be the last resort, but you seem to be suggesting that we have some sort of universal alternative to try first. There may be other options in specific contexts, for example disputes with service providers in regulated industries where there is some sort of ombudsman scheme, but it is not the case in general.
See also Matt Yglesias: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/loser_pays/