The European Court of Justice and General Principles Derived from the Acquis Communautaire

Abstract

This article aims to demonstrate and identify principles derived from primary legislation which govern European contract law. This demonstration is based on the consubstantial relationship, rooted in a market-oriented conception of Europe, which exists between principles set up by the European Union Treaties and those implicitly contained in secondary legislation. However, the view taken here is that not all ‘primary principles’ are shaped to integrate secondary legislation dealing with contract law. Only proportionality, effectiveness and, to some extent,non-discrimination prove appropriate in the context of contract law. The first part of the article supports the view that these principles have been used to remedy limits in European legislature competences in contract law. Part two takes the view that the principles have been used by the European Court of Justice as a tool of contractual policy making.