European and National Property Law

Book excerpt: This volume of The Walter van Gerven Lectures series examines the relationship between European and national property law. One of the pillars of the economic constitution of the EU is what might be called "freedom of property." It is, however, not really clear what is meant by "property" and "property rights" in a private law sense. How can property rights, or rights against the world, be defined at a European level? Under the surface of the differing rules, European property law systems seem to share several leading policies and principles, yet existing differences should not be ignored. A search for common policies, principles, concepts, and rules is badly needed. The lecture documented in this book provides research, examining problem areas and presenting suggestions.