European Consumer Law

European consumer law is the core of European civil law. In recent years, it has been subject to spectacular decisions by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), with significant consequences for Member States' law. This thoroughly updated second edition follows and analyzes this process in such important areas as unfair commercial practices, unfair terms, cross-border consumer protection, and product liability. There has been legislation in the area of consumer rights in distance and off-premise contracts and, very recently, consumer alternative dispute resolution and online dispute resolution. Other projects are still in the pipeline, e.g. mortgage credit, while another is subject to heated controversy, namely the proposed optional Common European Sales Law with an important part on consumer law. Even more importantly, the very concept of consumer and consumer protection has been subject to intense debate. Does European law limit itself to the 'informed consumer standard,' or should the 'weaker' or even the 'vulnerable consumer standard' be given more attention? The original team of authors - Hans W.-Micklitz, Norbert Reich, and Peter Rott - have been strengthened by the addition of Klaus Tonner. They have worked together to take a broad horizontal approach to the European consumer law acquis, thereby reflecting on the history, achievements, recent trends, and shortcomings of European law in this important field of law. The change from 'minimum' to 'full' or 'targeted harmonization' is critically analyzed, and the central role of the CJEU is documented and emphasized. (Series: Ius Communitatis - Vol. 5)

Since 2007 Professor for Economic Law at the European University Institute, Jean Monnet Chair of Private Law and European Economic Law at the University of Bamberg, Germany on leave. Head of the Institute of European and Consumer Law (VIEW) in Bamberg. Studies of law and sociology in Mainz, Lausanne/Geneva (Switzerland), Giessen and Hamburg. Consultancies for OECD in Paris, UNEP Geneva Switzerland/Nairobi Kenya and CI (Consumers International) Den Haag Netherlands/Penang Malaysia. Study visits at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute Florence, Italy, visiting professor at the Somerville College at the University of Oxford, co-founder of the Centre of Excellence at the University of Helsinki. Holder of an ERC Grant 2011-2016 on European Regulatory Private Law. Consultancies for ministries in Austria, Germany, the UK, the European Commission, OECD, UNEP, GIZ, non-governmental organisations, member of the expert committee on consumer affairs at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Berlin.