Non-Mandatory Rules in European Contract Law

European Review of Contract Law, Vol. 1, pp. 43-84, 2005

INHOUD EN WERKING VAN DE OVEREENKOMST NAAR BELGISCH EN NEDERLANDS RECHT, Jan Smits & Sophie Stijns, eds., pp. 101-134, Antwerpen & Groningen: Intersentia, 2005

PRO FORMA? ESSAYS ON THE ROLE OF FORMAL RULES AND FORMAL REQUIREMENTS IN PRIVATE LAW, A.F. Salomons & G.J.P. de Vries, eds., pp. 139-174, The Hague: Boom Juridische uitgevers, 2006

43 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2005 Last revised: 8 Apr 2011

See all articles by Martijn W. Hesselink

Martijn W. Hesselink

European University Institute - Department of Law (LAW)

Date Written: 2005

Abstract

This paper examines whether the European Union should enact one or more sets of non-mandatory rules of contract law. In order to be able to answer this question, it examines several perspectives on non-mandatory rules and concludes that there is no decisive, merely "technical" answer; the question is political. The paper further shows that, in spite of the principle of freedom of contract, many "non-mandatory rules" are de facto mandatory. This leads to the conclusion that, in this respect, there is no categorical difference between mandatory rules and non-mandatory rules. The consequence is, on the one hand, that there is no reason to exclude non-mandatory rules as a category from unification efforts with regard to contract law, whereas, on the other, a political process is necessary with regard to non-mandatory rules which assures that the important political choices are made in a democratic way.

Keywords: Default Rules, Mandatory Rules, Contract Law, European Law

JEL Classification: K12

Suggested Citation

Hesselink, Martijn W., Non-Mandatory Rules in European Contract Law (2005). European Review of Contract Law, Vol. 1, pp. 43-84, 2005, INHOUD EN WERKING VAN DE OVEREENKOMST NAAR BELGISCH EN NEDERLANDS RECHT, Jan Smits & Sophie Stijns, eds., pp. 101-134, Antwerpen & Groningen: Intersentia, 2005, PRO FORMA? ESSAYS ON THE ROLE OF FORMAL RULES AND FORMAL REQUIREMENTS IN PRIVATE LAW, A.F. Salomons & G.J.P. de Vries, eds., pp. 139-174, The Hague: Boom Juridische uitgevers, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=677242

Martijn W. Hesselink (Contact Author)

European University Institute - Department of Law (LAW) ( email )

Via Bolognese 156 (Villa Salviati)
50-139 Firenze
ITALY

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