Abstract

The European Union (EU) has so far taken only hesitant steps towards the development of an autonomous, Europe-wide regime of private law. Initiatives have focused on equality/nondiscrimination and consumer protection, the latter manifested in Directives on (for example) the sale of consumer goods, unfair contract terms and product liability. The legal basis for such reforms is limited and frequently disputed. Yet private law remains a focus of interest both in the European Commission and the European Parliament. In recent years, the Commission has been working towards a ‘common frame of reference’ intended to promote the coherence of private law in the EU, and in October 2011 it proposed a new ‘opt in’ legal regime for the sale of goods. This paper discusses the current initiatives in the context of previous developments in the area, and addresses the prospects for the future introduction of a European Civil Code.

File attachments