The Debate on an Optional European Contract Law

Abstract

In 1989 the European Parliament passed its first resolution on European contract law entitled “Resolution of the European Parliament of May 26, 1989 on action to bring into line the private law of the Member States”. In it the Parliament called for the preparation of a European Civil Code to promote the European Internal Market. In 1994 the Parliament passed the “Resolution of the European Parliament on the harmonization of certain sectors of the private law of the Member States” in which it called once more for a convergence of private law throughout the Member States of the European Union (Member States), preferably in the form of a European Civil Code. The Parliament considered this to be a necessary step towards the completion of the internal market.