The European Parliament has asked Prof. Hesselink to write a background note on the state of play of EU legislation and policy on contract law.

The requested background note shall first of all sum up the current EU legislation in the field of contract law. For this purpose and taking into account the fragmentary nature and the sector-specific approach of such legislation, the contractor has to identify and list all pieces of EU legislation containing important provisions having an impact on national contract law. Secondly, the note shall highlight the position of the European Parliament expressed both in the legislative procedures leading to the adoption of EU legislation on contract law and in its political resolutions (INI resolutions). In the conclusions, the background note shall indicate the perspectives of future development of EU legislation and policy in contract law, mentioning and briefly explaining the projects of comprehensive harmonisation, which are under discussion in the EU institutions.

 The final version of the background note should be provided on 15th April 2009.