System of pan-European contract law backed

The European Parliament voted on the 8 June 2011 to back optional EU-wide rules for businesses and consumers who are concluding contracts in the Single Market. The vote by Parliament follows an earlier policy announcement by European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding that she was considering proposing such an optional European contract law in the autumn of 2011 (SPEECH/11/411).

The objective wouyld be to bring more coherence to contract law in Europe while easing cross-border transactions, notably for Europe's small businesses and its 500 million consumers.

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release: IP/11/683: European Commission welcomes Parliament's support for an optional Europe-wide contract law http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/683&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

ESO: Background Information: Contract law and consumer rights http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-consumer-rights-and-law/

EurActiv, 9.6.11: EU closes in on contract law for consumers, SMEs http://www.euractiv.com/consumers/eu-closes-contract-law-consumers-news-505456

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