This book presents an overview of regulation of standard form contracts in the selected
jurisdictions of the European Union. Generally the term 'regulation of standard form
contracts' refers to the techniques and procedures that are established by the government and
case law to control the fairness and reasonableness of contracting or contractual arrangements.
The necessity of regulating standard form contracts is explained by arguing that absolute
freedom of contract does not contribute enough to the welfare of society even if we assume
that such freedom exists in reality. Four jurisdictions of the European Union - Germany France
England and Lithuania - have been selected for closer examination in order to build up a
comprehensive view in the three major jurisdictions of the Union as well as in the 'new
Europe'. Moreover the study elucidates the links between national contract laws and the
European Union law. In view of the obstacles a trader may face in abiding by unknownforeign
regulations the national regulations of standard form contract are assessed in the light of
so-called 'indistinctly applicable measures' that are prohibited under the European Union law.
Thus different options aimed at eliminating trade restrictions created by foreign regulations
on standard form contracts are contemplated in this book.
