This paper aims to present some preliminary ideas about the potential benefits and costs arising from the process of European Contract Law harmonization for the functioning of the existing national Contract Laws, and in the end, for the welfare of European societies. Some of those benefits and...

Eligible candidates and procedural steps to accession -- The Copenhagen criteria : efforts required before and after accession -- Instruments of the pre-accession strategy : from Agenda 2000 to date -- Accession treaties : transitional arrangements and other means to ease the impact of enlargement