The European Group on Tort Law

Who We Are

The European Group on Tort Law (formerly also called "Tilburg Group") is a group of scholars in the area of tort law established in 1992. The group meets regularly to discuss fundamental issues of tort law liability as well as recent developments and the future directions of the law of tort. The Group has drafted a collection of Principles of European Tort Law (PETL) similar to the Principles of European Contract Law drafted by the European Contract Law Commission ("Lando Commission").

The Group co-operates with the European Centre of Tort and Insurance Law in Vienna. Within the framework of this cooperation, the Group presented the Principles in a public conference on May 19 and 20, 2005, in Vienna. Additionally, the Group is supported by the Institute for European Tort Law (also established in Vienna).

Mission Statement

The European Group on Tort Law aims to contribute to the enhancement and harmonization of tort law in Europe through the framework provided by its Principles of European Tort Law (PETL) and its related and ongoing research, and in particular to provide a principled basis for rationalisation and innovation at national and EU level.

Current Work Programme

Following the original publication of the PETL (with commentary) in 2005, the Group reconvened in 2009 to work on expanding the PETL’s scope and updating and refining its content in the light of subsequent scholarly debates and developments in national and EU law. In the years to come, the Group aims to continue to publish a series of preliminary studies on topics not addressed in the initial edition of the PETL or otherwise warranting consideration, culminating with the publication of a revised and expanded edition of the PETL. Topics already addressed in the meantime include public authority liability, the inter-relationship between contractual and non-contractual liability, prescription of actions (limitation periods), and the burden of proof.