欧盟《不公平合同条款指令》对中国的启示

Enlightenment of the EU’s“Unfair Contract Terms Directive”to China

我国经济高质量发展和国内市场一体化进程的迫切需求,要求构建全国统一大市场,以打破地方保护和市场分割,促进商品和要素的自由流动,提升市场效率和竞争力。本文在此背景下介绍了欧盟《不公平合同条款指令》的出台背景是为了促进欧盟内部市场的统一和协调发展,减少欧盟成员国之间对于合同法作用上的巨大分歧,从而更好地消除贸易壁垒,减少不公平合同条款对消费者造成的障碍,推动商品和服务的自由流通,增强欧盟市场的竞争力和活力。指出《不公平合同条款指令》是最低限度指令的性质,其不仅是对合同弱势方的保护,更是一种补偿机制。其使用范围限于消费者合同以及格式条款。该指令还对透明度提出了要求,要求合同条款是通俗易懂的。在实施当中,由于各成员国之间的特殊性,该指令将决定权大多交与成员国,以更具体的方式实施该指令。该指令虽未能建立一个统一的方法,但其为消费者提供了一种独立的保护措施。我国现有制度规范有格式条款,但并没有不公平条款,借鉴欧盟不公平条款制度有助于我国建立统一大市场。

The urgent need for the high-quality development of China’s economy and the integration of the domestic market requires the construction of a unified national market to break local protection and market segmentation,promote the free flow of goods and factors,and improve market efficiency and competitiveness.In this context,this article introduces the background of the EU’s Directive on Unfair Contract Clauses in order to promote the unified and coordinated development of the EU's internal market and reduce the huge differences between EU member states on the role of contract law,so as to better eliminate trade barriers and reduce the barriers caused by unfair contract clauses to consumers.Promote the free circulation of goods and services and enhance the competitiveness and vitality of the EU market.It is pointed out that the“Unfair Contract Terms Directive”is the nature of the minimum directive,which is not only the protection of the vulnerable parties in the contract,but also a compensation mechanism.Its scope of use is limited to consumer contracts and format terms.The directive also requires transparency and requires that the terms of the contract are easy to understand.In the process of implementation,due to the particularity between member countries,the directive has given the decision-making power to the member states to implement the directive in a more specific way.Although the directive fails to establish a unified approach,it provides an independent protection measure for consumers.China’s existing system has format clauses,but there are no unfair clauses.Learning from the EU’s unfair clause system will help China establish a unified market.