Communication on ‘Digital contracts for Europe – unleashing the potential of e-commerce’

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission in December 2015 alongside a package of legislative proposals relating to digital contracts and e-commerce.

Further information:

Against a background of fast growth of the European e-commerce market within the overall retail sector, the European Commission established it as one of the main priorities of its Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy. This strategy identified differences in contract law between Member States among the barriers to cross-border e-commerce. A set of legislative proposals were thus announced for a simpler and effective cross-border contract rules by harmonising contract rules for the supply of digital content and the online sales of goods.

As announced by the European Commission in its 2015 Work Programme, a package of proposals were put forward in the framework of the DSM strategy:

• Proposal for a Directive on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content
• Proposal for a Directive on certain aspects concerning contracts for the online and other distance sales of goods

Official

European Commission: Digital Contracts for Europe - Q&A http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-6265_en.htm

European Commission: Press Release, 09.12.15: Commission proposes modern digital contract rules to simplify and promote access to digital content and online sales across the EU http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6264_en.htm

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