Long-Term Business Relationships and Implicit Contracts in European Private Law

Abstract

In Granarolo SpA v Ambrosi Emmi France SA, the European Court of Justice held that a dispute between a distributor and its supplier concerning an action for damages for the abrupt termination of a long-term business relationship, which was not expressed in a framework, umbrella contract, was a matter relating to a contract for the purposes of European private international law. This note explores the wider significance of Granarolo for the meaning of ‘contract’ in European contract law.

Keywords: Private International Law, Conflict of Laws, Contract Law, Private Law, EU Law, European Court of Justice