This book addresses and highlights the core issues concerning general principles of EU law and their relationship with and impact on private law. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights became a legally binding source of primary law and highlights, together with the General Principles of EU law, the importance of fundamental rights in the legal system of the Union. This increased visibility means that private parties have begun to rely on fundamental rights arguments in proceedings in front of national courts and Union courts more and more often. Amongst many other issues this development brings important questions relating to the effects of EU fundamental rights on private law to the forefront. After an introductory chapter by the editors the following four overarching themes provide the structure of this book and broadly reflect the approaches discussed in its eighteen essays: