유럽사법(私法)통합의 현황과 시사점 - 유럽의 공통참조기준초안(Draft Common Frame of Reference)에 관한 논쟁을 관찰하며 -

Draft Common Frame of Reference is the academic work, prepared by two research groups at the delegation of the European commission, containing principles, definitions and model rules of European private law. This impressive work is not only significant in the realm of European private law, but also in the context of Korean private law as well, which has constantly been influenced by European private law. Although it is good to be acquainted with the contents of the DCFR, it is equally important to understand where DCFR stands in the past,present, and the future of European private law. For some years, DCFR has been the focus of huge controversy in various aspects. Its relationship to the idea of the European Civil Code, the solidness of the common legal infrastructure of the European private law on which it stands, and its position as to the fundamental values of the private law have especially been subject to fierce controversy. Apart from the debate concerning these issues, the European Union is pressing forward with the next idea of “Instrument of the European Contract Law”, based on the contract law part of the DCFR, which will significantly affect the future of the European Contract law. Anyhow, DCFR will be remembered as a huge leap in the road to the integration of European private law. The contract law part is likely to serve as the meaningful stepping stone to the integration of European contract law, while the other parts are likely to remain as a mere academic work that might benefit future efforts in its kind. A close observation on the process of making DCFR and the controversy that followed also gives us some implications that we need to dwell on. Among these implications, I have argued that expansion of the role of the comparative analysis, competition between legal regimes, and the emerging significance of the fundamental values of private law are particularly noteworthy.