The DCFR, the ACQP and the reactions of Italian Legal Scholars

Italian commentators welcome the promotion of the Europeanization of Private Law through the process of increasing the coherence of EC legislation in the areas of consumer and contract law, although they appear to conclude that the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR) and the Acquis Principles (ACQP) fall signifi cantly short of achieving those goals. The stated purpose of the Italian comments is to stimulate critical yet constructive commentaries – at least insofar as the authors’ intention is concerned – to be submitted to the project’s architects, with a view to contribute to the harmonization of European contract and consumer law. General criticisms concern the scope of application of the two instruments, DCFR and ACQP (often extended without good reasons to B2B contracts) and the ‘legislative technique’ used in drafting them. Further causes for concern from the point of view of Italian scholars relate to general principles such as good faith, unfairness, reasonableness, or the principle of non-discrimination. As for the specifi c contents of the DCFR and ACQP, Italian scholars analyse formal requirements, contract formation, non-negotiated terms, withdrawal, performance of obligations, non-performance and damages.