This volume investigates the foundational principles required to harmonize service contract regulations across diverse European legal systems. Maurits Barendrecht, working within the Study Group on a European Civil Code, analyzes the intersection of national private law and the requirements of the common market. The text argues that a unified framework of rules is necessary to facilitate cross-border economic activity and provide legal certainty for service providers and consumers alike.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for the ongoing development of a Common Frame of Reference in European private law. Readers often note the high level of academic density and the rigorous comparative methodology employed throughout the text.