In its case law the Court of Justice of the European Union has acknowledged general principles of EU law, which have a constitutional status. In addition the Court of Justice has also recognised 'general principles of civil law', relying upon values which are traditionally rooted in the domain of private law.The pervasive use of principles, both in the case law of the Court of Justice and in other EU projects of 'soft' and 'hard' law, challenges legal scholarship. Although the concepts of principles and rules have been widely discussed within the context of national legal orders, they need to be rethought at the European level, because the traditional view of a principle does not fit the European Union's constitutional architecture. This also applies to the general principles of civil law, for instance good faith. They also have to be redefined to be consistent with the European Union's legal order.The contributions in this book examine EU general principles and their distinction from rules both within the context of the European Union as well as of the Member States. Moreover, they focus on the relevance of EU general principles for contract law and of principles of civil law for a European contract law.

General Principles of EU Civil Law focuses on a rapidly developing but still highly controversial area of EU law: the emergence of general principles with constitutional relevance for EU civil law, guiding its interpretation, gap filling and legality control. This study brings to light seven principles in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Principles 1 to 3 on framed autonomy, protection of the weaker party and non-discrimination are now part of substantive EU law, mainly contract law. Principle 4 on effectiveness, together with the principle of equivalence, is an "old acquaintance" of EU law and has mostly to do with procedures but can also be extended to cover substantive and remedial matters. Principles 5 and 6 on balancing and proportionality are primarily concerned with methodological questions: the first has to do with judicial interpretation and application of EU civil law, the second with legal-political questions on the future of a (questionable) codified or optional EU civil law, in particular sales law. Finally, principle 7 on good faith is still an emerging principle but is gradually gaining importance. This book will allow the reader to understand and to assess the current evolution of EU civil law in days where its autonomous character is increasingly recognised in the case law of the Court, and where the Charter is having a growing impact on its constitutional foundations. About this book 'Professor Reich has written a book that is not merely rich and broad in ambition,but in fact genuinely ground-breaking. In identifying, explaining and analysing seven key principles of EU civil law, he has drawn us a map that will help scholars to find their way through the forbiddingly dense jungle populated by EU Treaty provisions, the legislative acquis and the Court's case law. And, in showing how proudly 'social' much of the EU's protective regulation affecting private parties truly is, he has set a tone that EU policymakers should embrace.' Stephen Weatherill, Jacques Delors Professor of European Law, University of Oxford 'For the private lawyer, probably the most interesting recent development in EU law is the emergence of principles of private law, developed by the European Court of Justice. This phenomenon unfolds in three strands. Firstly, the Court has developed general principles of EU law which are also relevant for private law. Secondly, since the entry into force of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2009) a process of judicial interpretation has started which shows that not a few provisions have a significant impact on private law. In a third wave of innovations the ECJ seems to be willing to develop principles of civil law, in a more restricted sense, playing their role purely within the ambit of private law. In his new book, General Principles of EU Civil Law, Norbert Reich reaches out to these different categories of principles, combining them under one heading and systematising them in a new and original way.' Arthur Hartkamp, Professor of European Private Law, Radboud University, Nijmegen

EU consumer law is the core of European civil law. In recent years, in particular between the first edition of 2009 and this second edition, it has been subject to spectacular decisions by the Court of Justice of the European Union, with significant consequences for Member States' law. This revised and thoroughly updated new edition follows and analyses this process in such important areas as unfair commercial practices, unfair terms, cross-border consumer protection, and product liability. There has been legislation in the area of consumer rights in distance and off-premise contracts, and very recently consumer ADR and ODR. Other projects are still in the pipeline, e.g. mortgage credit; another is subject to heated controversy, namely the proposed optional Common European Sales Law with an important part on consumer law. Even more importantly, the very concept of consumer and consumer protection has been subject to intense debate. Does EU law limit itself to the 'informed consumer standard', or should the 'weaker' or even the 'vulnerable consumer standard' be given more attention? The original team of authors Hans W.- Micklitz, Norbert Reich and Peter Rott have been strengthened by the addition of Klaus Tonner. They have worked together to take a broad horizontal approach to the EU consumer law acquis, thereby reflecting on the history, achievements, recent trends and also shortcomings of EU law in this important field of law. The change from 'minimum' to 'full' or 'targeted harmonisation' is critically analysed, and the central role of the CJEU documented and emphasised.'This book, distilling insight from a much longer volume originally in German, offers a clear and authoritative survey of EU law developments.'Luke Nottage in Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law (2016)About the first edition of this book:'[...] a publication of which the importance is high, also for the development of law in general'In Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Burgerlijk Recht 5 (2009) 194'[...] stimulating, challenging and well-researched.'Angus Johnston in Common Market Law Review (2010) 956'[...] the book provides a concise and up-to-date overview of European Consumer Law.'Jan Schurnbrand in RabelsZ 74 (2010) 891'[...] certainly an important accomplishment.'Marco B.M. Loos in 2011 ZEuP 447