Digitalization of the Civil Law in Russia and in the Countries of the European Union: Theoretical and Practical Issues

Introduction . In recent years, Russia and other countries have enacted a number of new legal norms aimed at adapting civil law institutions to the digital era. Successful adaptation will require: the analysis of the main achievements in the field of digitalization of the Civil Law, recognition of digital technologies in the legislation, review of acting norms and their implementation in the key areas (electronic transactions, blockchain technologies), providing recommendations for further improvement of the Civil Law taking into account digital tool operations. The article aims to investigate the existing legal regulation of the Civil Law digitalization processes in Russia and in the countries of the European Union, to justify possibility of using the certain successful legal constructs from the foreign practices for development of the civil legislation in Russia. Materials and Methods . The study was conducted using the dialectical and systemic methods, the methods of comparative analysis, normative and legal analysis, and the logical method. Results . It has been ascertained that the dynamics of the Civil Law digitalization processes in Russia and the EU is quite comparable: there go gradual regulation of using blockchain technologies, smart contracts, digital signatures, cryptocurrencies, online platforms for registration of rights, as well as stipulation of digital rights in the civil legislation and integration of digital technologies into the corporate management. It has been emphasized that digitalization of inheritance relationships and work of notaries can be distinguished into a separate direction. Discussion and Conclusion . Digitalization of the Civil Law is quite a dynamic process that requires finding a balance between the innovations and protection of the rights of the subjects. Over the past decade in Russia and in the EU, the legislative foundations for electronic document management were built, a number of digital constructs were recognized, and adaptation of the traditional institutions (inheritance, corporate governance) to new reality was started. Although the EU does not have a single Civil Code, the regulatory legal acts harmonizing the certain aspects of digitalization and law have already been adopted at the supranational level, and serve the basis for the member states to issue supplements to their national codes. Similar law reforming processes are underway in Russia. The ability of the Civil Law to efficiently regulate the developing digital economy depends on the timeliness and thorough elaboration of these reforms.