European contract law in the insurance sector

21 September 2011

The Commission is preparing a legislative proposal for an optional European contract law to be presented in October. Differences in contract law may hinder cross-border trade for both SMEs and consumers buying across borders, as well as for some insurance companies.

This is why the Commission wants to start a dialogue with the insurance sector about the possible added value of an optional European Insurance Contract Law, on which work could start in 2012.

European Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding, is today meeting with leaders of European insurance companies to discuss European contract law in the insurance sector.

Reding will also discuss the follow-up to the Court of Justice of the European Union's 1 March Test-Achats ruling on gender discrimination in insurance pricing, limitation periods for civil claims arising from road traffic accidents, and insurance-related implications of collective redress proceedings.

Press release

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