'… a courageous and provocative enterprise for a common lawyer! … the multitude of constructive and innovative ideas suggested by Collins might help design a legal and institutional compromise capable of overcoming the current political deadlock of the European codification process - not a small achievement for a single book!' The European Law Review
1. Civil society and political union; 2. The Acquis Communautaire in private law; 3. The hidden code; 4. Private law and the economic constitution; 5. Cultural diversity and European identity; 6. Respecting legal diversity; 7. Multi-level private law; 8. Strengthening convergence; 9. Exploring the European social model.