Current Gaps and Future Perspectives in European Private International Law: Towards a Code on Private International Law?

Abstract

Private international law is to a great extent regulated by EU rules. However, particular areas are still governed by national rules. This paper identifies the existing gaps in the EU regulatory framework, and discusses future perspectives. In the short and the mid term, the focus should be on filling gaps by using separate instruments, while preserving coherence. In the long term a more comprehensive framework or code would be an option.

This paper is a briefing note, written on request of the European Parliament. It is largely based upon a more comprehensive study that was conducted under the scientific directorship of the present author.

Keywords: private international law, European regulation, European code

JEL Classification: D78, K10, K20, K30, K40, K41, K12