Features of the unification of private international law within the European Union

The article covers the question of the features of the process of the unification in the sphere of private international law within the European Union. The stages of development of the regional international union from the Economic Community to the European Union are also followed up in the article. The author explores the methods and instruments of such unification, makes conclusions about the phase of the unification of concrete institutes of private international law in the European Union. Besides that the author broaches a question of the unification/harmonization of the European contract law.