Contract Theory and EU Contract Law

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between contract theory and European contract law. In particular, it confronts the leading contract law theories with the main characteristics of EU contract law. The conclusion is that the two do not match well. In particular, monist normative contract theories are largely irreconcilable with the contract law of the EU. The paper further addresses the main implications of this mismatch, both for contract theory and for EU contract law. It suggests that in the light of the two undeniable facts of the Europeanisation of contract law and the pluralism of reasonable worldviews the essentialist and other monist contract theories may have become untenable.