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Study Group on a European Civil Code

The Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR) contains the results of the work of the Study Group on a European Civil Code (the “Study Group”) and the Research Group on Existing EC Private Law (the “Aquis Group”). The former Commission on European Contract Law (the “Lando Commission”) provided the basis for much of Books II and III; it was on their Principles of European Contract Law (PECL) that the Study Group and the Acquis Group built. The Acquis Group concentrated on existing Community Law in the area of general contract law. The Study Group’s main focus was on the remaining material. Nearly two hundred and fifty people of different generations collaborated in the research groups over a period of more than twenty-five years. They have reflected important areas of private law in principles, definitions and model rules. The perspective is thoroughly European and the fundamental basis of the work has been scholarly research and impartial thought and argument on the basis of that research. Model rules, with comments and notes, bring together rules derived largely from the legal systems of the Member States and the over-arching Community law. Principles explain the main underlying value judgements. Definitions bring to the defined terms and concepts the shared experience and ideas of jurists from thirty jurisdictions.