Press Release: European contract law: Commission sets the stage for a broad debate

The European Commission adopted a Communication on 13 July 2001 launching a broad debate on problems for the functioning of the Internal Market resulting from the divergence of national contract laws and on the need for further-reaching Community action in this area. The Commission would like to examine whether the existing approach of sectoral harmonisation can resolve any problems which might arise. In addition, the Commission is seeking information on potential practical problems for the uniform application of Community and national contract law across the European Union. Such problems can hinder business and consumers in fully exploiting the potential of the Internal Market and may mean that they do not have access to the same legal rights and economic chances across borders that Community legislation is intended to offer them. The Communication sets out four different options for improvement and is intended to form the basis for a broad consultation of business interests, legal practitioners, consumer groups and academics over the coming months. It is a joint initiative of Commissioners David Byrne, António Vitorino, Frits Bolkestein and Erkki Liikanen and follows requests for action from both the European Parliament and the European Council.

http://europe.eu.int/comm/off/green/index_en.htm http://europe.eu.int/comm/off/green/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/consumers/policy/developments/contract_law/index_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/comm/consumers/policy/developments/contract_law/index_en.html

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