Common European Sales Law: Why, and Why Not

On 11 October 2011 the European Commission published its Proposal for a Regulation on a Common European Sales Law (the CESL). The purpose of the proposed Regulation is to introduce into the laws of the Member States an alternative sales law regime, which parties to selected contracts will be able to choose as the law governing their relationship. The proposal indicates Article 114 TFEU as the legal basis of the measure, and claims that the CESL will ‘improve the establishment and the functioning of the internal market by facilitating the expansion of cross-border trade for business and cross-border purchases for consumers’. The CESL covers the whole life cycle of the contract, from pre-contractual obligations to remedies for non-performance, termination and withdrawal.

The Oxford EU Law Discussion Group in conjunction with the Comparative Law Discussion Group is organising an afternoon colloquium on the Commission’s proposal. We have asked three speakers to discuss the Common European Sales Law from the perspective of the EU’s competence to enact the Regulation, its harmonising effects, its practical consequences for traders and consumers, as well as its impact on national contract law:

The Colloquium will take place in the Cube, Faculty of Law, St Cross Building, St Cross Road, Oxford OX1 3UL, from 17.00-19.00. It will be followed by a wine reception.

The Colloquium is open to non-Oxford participants and is free of charge. If you would like to attend it, please email Jenny Dix at jenny.dix@iecl.ox.ac.uk to register.