The Harmonisation of European Contract Law: Implications for European Private Laws, Business and Legal Practice

(Hardback)

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After an extended period in which the European Community has merely nibbled at the edges of national contract law, the bite of a 'European contract law' has lately become more pronounced. Many areas of law, from competition and consumer law to gender equality law, are now the subject of determined efforts at harmonisation, though they are perhaps often seen as peripheral to mainstream commercial contract law. Despite continuing doubts about the constitutional competence of the Commission to embark on further harmonisation in this area, European contract law is now taking shape with the Commission prompting a debate about what it might attempt. A central aspect of this book is the report of a remarkable survey carried out by the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law in collaboration with Clifford Chance, which sought the views of European businesses about the advantages and disadvantages of further harmonisation. The final report of this survey brings much needed empirical data to a debate that has thus far lacked clear evidence of this sort. The survey is embedded in a range of original and up-to-date essays by leading European contract scholars reviewing recent developments, questioning progress so far and suggesting areas where further analysis and research will be required

Reviews

All in all the book gives thanks to the quality of the authors and its comprehensive and coherent structure a very fair picture of the ongoing debate concerning European contract law. This volume is very nicely edited. It contains comprehensive tables of cases, domestic legislation, EC legislation, international legislation and principles and a every detailed index. This book is a true milestone in the debate on European contract law. -- Jules Stuyck * Common Market Law Review, Vol 44, No 2 *
a highly recommendable and differentiated piece of readingThis book contains a wealth of informationan important watershed in the debate on a contract law for Europe. -- Lesley Jane Smith * European Review of Contract Law, Issue 2 *

Author Bio

Stefan Vogenauer is Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Brasenose College and Director of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law. Stephen Weatherill is Jacques Delors Professor of European Law at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Somerville College and a Deputy Director of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law.