Conference "Which European contract law for the European Union?"
Which European contract law for the European Union?
© C. Montagné - SCICOM - Justice
- from: 23.10.2008
- to: 24.10.2008
- In: Paris, Université de la Sorbonne
The French Ministry of Justice is holding a conference on the topic 'Which European contract law for the European Union?' at the Sorbonne University in Paris on 23rd and 24th October 2008. This conference is also open to interested students.
This conference, which has been organised in partnership with the Slovene, Czech and Swedish ministries of justice and the French bar association, and with the support of the European Commission, proposes to develop discussions on two main questions: How can we devise a common frame of reference for contract law within European institutions? How can this frame of reference respond to the difficulties practitioners experience in the field of contract law?
The specialist nature of legal rules in Europe and the increasing disparity in the movements of goods and services call for an examination of the need to simplify and coordinate EU legislation. As the chief instrument of civil and commercial relations, the contract has been the main focus of attention.
In 2003 the European Commission launched an action plan for a "more coherent European contract law" that called for a "common frame of reference" which would consist of a set of common definitions, general principles and model rules in the field of contract law. Implementation of this frame of reference is an essential step in improving the quality of EU legislation.
Several pieces of academic work proposing draft common frames of reference are now available. More in-depth discussions are now required in order to decide how we can build this common frame of reference so that it is most effective and respectful of the legal traditions of the twenty-seven Member States of the EU.
The common frame of reference is designed primarily for EU legislators with the aim of improving the coherence and quality of legislation as it is revised or created, though it could also be used in the longer term by national judges, legislators or jurists as a source of inspiration or as a reference.
- Updated: 04.12.2008
