European Community Law for the New Economy

Abstract:     
The European Community (EC) has launched an ambitious legislative program for the new economy. In "European Community Law for the New Economy" Professor Lucas Bergkamp analyzes the EC's current and proposed new economy legislation. The new economy, according to Bergkamp, is not only the internet, the information society, and biotechnology, but also a different kind of "old" economy, a different kind of corporate governance, and a different kind of government. Accordingly, in addition to the EC e-commerce, data protection, and biotechnology legislation, this book discusses the grand principles of EC policy making (such as sustainable development and the precautionary principle), environmental protection, product safety, the theory of corporate social responsibility, and EC government reform. Prof. Bergkamp argues that EC law's guiding principles and foundations are problematic, and suggests that different types of reform are necessary to move towards a government model for balanced EC law and policy for the new economy.

Accepted Paper Series