Stockholm Centre for Commercial Law (SCCL) arranged a meeting in Stockholm on 23–24 October 2009 following the Swedish presidency CFR conference, which was held in Stockholm on 22–23 October and organized by the Swedish government. The topic at the meeting was to discuss a proposal from Professor Christian von Bar and Professor Hans Schulte-Nölke, on how to continue the important work conducted by, inter alia, the Study Group on a European Civil Code and the Acquis Group. The continuance of this work could be organized by establishing either a European Law Forum or an informal organisation. The form for this continued work has, for some considerable time, been the subject of lively discussions amongst those interested.

This publication contains writings concerning the themes presented and discussed during the meeting. Many of the leading experts in the field attended the meeting.

Table of Contents


Does business want a Common Frame of Reference?

Paul Abbiati

Is the Draft Frame of Reference compatible with the Position of the Council? - How should the Academic Research be continued?

Christian von Bar

Topic 2: The Content of the political CFR – how to prioritise

Hugh Beale

Discours d’ouverture, conférence « un cadre commun de référence pour le droit européen des contrats »

Jean-Marie Bockel

Do we need specifically European optional instruments for international business transactions?

Michael Joachim Bonell

Why the “optional instrument” is not our option

Tomáš Břicháček

Informations d’ordre général sur le travail de la Commission relatif au cadre de Référence, ainsi que la voie à suivre

Alain Brun

The relationship between the Political frame of reference (PFR) and the consumer acquis

Bénédicte Fauvarque-Cosson

Some Aspects on the Position of the CCBE on the DCFR

Friedrich Graf von Westphalen

The Common Frame of Reference as a basis for future harmonisation of the law of sale and lease of goods

Johnny Herre

A Plea for a Binding Instrument

Ole Lando

Erwartungen an den politischen Referenzrahmen

Klaus-Heiner Lehne

The results of the discussions in the Council and the future political work with the frame of reference

Tanja Rasmusson

Drafting new model rules on sales: CFR as an alternative to the CISG?

Ingeborg Schwenzer & Pascal Hachem

Do we need a codification?

Leif Sevón

Is non-contractual liability arising out of damage caused to another a natural part of a political frame of reference?

Lena Sisula-Tulokas

The (Draft) Common Frame of Reference as a toolbox and as a basis for an optional instrument

Matthias E. Storme

Common Frame of Reference and UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts: Coexistence, Competition, or Overkill of Soft Law?

Stefan Vogenauer