Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations 1980
The Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations 1980, or the "Rome Convention", is a measure in private international law or conflict of laws which creates a common choice of law system in contracts within the European Union. The convention determines which law should be used, but does not harmonise the substance (the actual law). It was signed in Rome, Italy on 19 June 1980 and entered into force in 1991.
| Convention on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations | |
|---|---|
States applying Rome instruments
Rome I Regulation, Rome Convention
Rome Convention | |
| Signed | 19 June 1980 |
| Location | Rome |
| Effective | 1 April 1991 |
| Condition | 7 ratifications |
| Parties | all Member States of the European Union |
| Depositary | Director-General of the Council of the European Communities |
| Languages | Danish, Dutch, German, English, French, Irish and Italian (original) |
It has now been replaced by the Rome I Regulation (593/2008) except for in Denmark, which has an opt-out from implementing regulations under the area of freedom, security and justice, and the Overseas countries and territories of European Union member states. In that respect, the convention is applicable in Aruba, the Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Faroer (Denmark), Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Barthélemy, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia (France). The agreement and regulation were applied by the United Kingdom during its membership of the European Union, and following Brexit it still applies the regulation as part of its domestic law.