L'opera riprende i risultati di un'importante commissione di studio a livello europeo sul tema centrale della famiglia come soggetto che abbisognerebbe in modo particolare di un diritto internazionale uniforme a livello UE.
Abbreviations. – Introductory Speech. – The “Communitarization” of Private International Law and its Impact on the External Relations of the European Union (F. Pocar). – First part: EC external relations and private international law. – Second part: General problems of ec private international law with regard to relations with third states. – Section 1: Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments and administrative cooperation. – Section 2: Applicable law.