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Lohse, Eva J. --- "The Meaning of Harmonisation in the Context of European Union Law – a Process in Need of Definition" [2012] ELECD 360; in Andenas, Mads; Andersen, Baasch Camilla (eds), "Theory and Practice of Harmonisation" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: Theory and Practice of Harmonisation

Editor(s): Andenas, Mads; Andersen, Baasch Camilla

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849800013

Section: Chapter 16

Section Title: The Meaning of Harmonisation in the Context of European Union Law – a Process in Need of Definition

Author(s): Lohse, Eva J.

Number of pages: 32

Extract:

16. The meaning of harmonisation in the
context of European Union
law ­ a process in need of definition
Eva J. Lohse*

Harmonisation of laws is a multifaceted development. We are yet to comprehend
the many processes and implications involved in harmonising law. Any account
of harmonising processes depends on what is understood by `harmonisation'
or by `approximation', a term which is often used synonymously to refer to the
abolition of different legal rules within a given entity1 (section A). This chapter
will not tackle the issues why or how to harmonise. It will focus on defining
the process of harmonisation by elaborating cornerstones of a definition of
harmonisation in the context of European former Community law.2
The term `harmonisation' is, however, restricted neither to the context of the
European Union (EU),3 nor to legal contexts, but is commonly used in order


* University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
1
This synonymous use will be elaborated further in section A below. See also
Eiden, C (1984), Die Rechtsangleichung gemäß Art. 100 des EWG-Vertrages (Duncker
& Humblot) at 15; Hallstein, W (1964), `Angleichung des Privat- und Prozessrechts in
der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft', 28 RabelsZ 211 at 217 and Ihns, A (2005),
Entwicklung und Grundlagen der europäischen Rechtsangleichung (Heymans) at 15.
2
This chapter refers mainly to the situation under the former `First Pillar', i.e. the
core of the European Union (EU). It is still a moot point whether there is harmonisation
in the areas covered by the Treaty on ...