RAHVUSVAHELINE KONVERENTS - DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPEAN LAW: EUROPEAN INITIATIVES (CFR) AND REFORM OF CIVIL LAW IN NEW MEMBER STATES I The Present State and Future Perspectives of Harmonization of Private Law Prof. Walter van Gerven University of Leuven, Belgium The Open Method of Convergence, Coordination and Education Prof. Hans Schulte-Nölke University of Bielefeld, Germany From the Acquis Communaritaire to the Common Frame of Reference - the Contribution of the Aquis Group