Development of European Contract Law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hein Kötz
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Comparative Law ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Private Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Freedom Of Contract ◽  
European Code ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
European Contract Law

This chapter examines the historical, economic, and political reasons which have led to the idea of ‘Europeanising’ private law, academic literature, and legal teaching in European countries in pursuit of the eventual creation of European private law. After discussing the functions of comparative law and the different ways in which it could contribute towards setting up a unified European private law, the chapter considers the link between economic order and contract law as well as the adoption of the principle of freedom of contract by all European legal orders. It also discusses the pros and cons of a ‘European Code of Contract Law’ that would harmonise or unify not only the rules on consumer protection but also the non-mandatory ‘dispositive’ contract law.

Harmonisation of European Contract law the Influence of Comparative law

2001 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Peter Berger
Keyword(s):  
European Integration ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Comparative Law ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Private Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Strong Link ◽  
German Association ◽  
European Contract Law

It is generally acknowledged today that comparative law plays a decisive role in the harmonisation of European private law, in particular of European contract law.1 Dölle has emphasised this strong link between comparative law and European integration as early as 1950 in his report on the refoundation of the German Association of Comparative Law:

Comparative Law and the Europeanization of Private Law

2019 ◽  
pp. 556-598
Author(s):  
Reinhard Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Law ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Private Law ◽  
Consumer Contract ◽  
European Contract ◽  
The Past ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Many ◽  
European Contract Law

The gradual emergence of a European private law is one of the most significant contemporary legal developments. Comparative law scholarship has played an important role in this process; in turn, it has received a boost as a result of the ‘Europeanization of private law’ agenda. The present essay attempts to provide an overview of the new types of literature that have been created, of new perspectives that have been opened up, of new approaches that have been tried, and of the transnational networks that have been established. Within the traditional core areas of private law, contract law has been at the centre of attention. Apart from the many Directives, particularly in the field of consumer contract law, a prodigious number of reference texts has been produced and, for some time, a codification of European contract law appeared to be imminent. That plan has now collapsed, and the institutionalized ‘Europe’ is, at the moment, facing strong headwinds. One of the challenges faced by comparative scholarship consists in preserving the momentum that has been build up over the past three decades. The European Law Institute, founded in 2011, may emerge as an important platform to advance the Europeanization of private law through facilitating and stimulating transnational comparative study.

Harmonisation of European Contract Law: Citizenship, Diversity and Effectiveness

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 81-99
Author(s):  
Hugh Collins
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Legislative Process ◽  
Private Law ◽  
European Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Common Frame Of Reference ◽  
European Contract Law ◽  
Code Civil

Proposals from the European Commission to work towards greater harmonisation of contract law, and indeed private law more generally, have been described in terms that apparently distance these plans from the introduction of a code civil europa. Nevertheless, the programme for developing ‘non-sector-specific measures’ into a ‘common frame of reference’ constitutes in its fundamentals and aspirations the ambition to create a European law of contract. And the method for the construction of this code replicates the process devising the great European codes of the nineteenth century: a painstaking scholarly endeavour to find consistency and coherence in the divergent national private law systems, except that no legislative process is foreseen.

Harmonisation of European Contract Law: Citizenship, Diversity and Effectiveness

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 81-99
Author(s):  
Hugh Collins
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Legislative Process ◽  
Private Law ◽  
European Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Common Frame Of Reference ◽  
European Contract Law ◽  
Code Civil

Proposals from the European Commission to work towards greater harmonisation of contract law, and indeed private law more generally, have been described in terms that apparently distance these plans from the introduction of a code civil europa. Nevertheless, the programme for developing ‘non-sector-specific measures’ into a ‘common frame of reference’ constitutes in its fundamentals and aspirations the ambition to create a European law of contract. And the method for the construction of this code replicates the process devising the great European codes of the nineteenth century: a painstaking scholarly endeavour to find consistency and coherence in the divergent national private law systems, except that no legislative process is foreseen.

Part III Harmonization of General Contract Law, 16 Restatements of Contract Law

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Contract Law ◽  
Good Faith ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Freedom Of Contract ◽  
Substantive Content ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Specific Performance ◽  
General Contract Law ◽  
European Contract Law

This chapter examines non-binding restatements of contract law, in particular the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts and the Principles of European Contract Law. It considers the nature, purposes, scope, sphere of application, and substantive content of these Principles (including freedom of contract, pacta sunt servanda, good faith, interpretation, adequate assurance of performance, specific performance, and other remedies and hardship and change of circumstances). The chapter considers the extent to which these Principles can be used in litigation and in arbitration and their relative advantages and disadvantages.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Martijn W. Hesselink
Keyword(s):  
Contract Theory ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Private Law ◽  
European Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
Methodological Nationalism ◽  
Political Theories ◽  
Normative Foundations ◽  
European Contract Law

This chapter provides the introduction to the book. It sets out how it will explore the normative foundations of European contract law by addressing fundamental political questions on contract law in Europe from the perspective of leading contemporary political theories. It states the book’s main aims and starting points, and introduces its methodology. The chapter also explains how the approach and focus of this study differs from all other contributions to contract theory, private law theory, and the theory of European law—in particular how it aims to move the debate beyond acquis positivism, market reductionism, normative intuitionism, private law essentialism, and methodological nationalism.

Weaker Party Protection

2021 ◽  
pp. 272-335
Author(s):  
Martijn W. Hesselink
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
European Contract ◽  
The Core ◽  
General Rules ◽  
Different Types ◽  
European Contract Law

This Chapter discusses the question of whether contract law can and should differentiate between different types of contracting parties according to their relational or social weakness. Should contract law protect certain weaker parties, through the implementation of measures ranging from general rules against unfair exploitation or abuse of circumstances to more specific sets of rules protecting certain categories of contracting parties, such as workers, tenants, and consumers? And if so, who should count as worthy of protection and what kinds of protection should they be granted? Given that consumer protection has been central to EU contract law, this question goes to the core of the justifiability of the European contract law acquis.

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