Suchergebnisse

Abstract: This article deals with the (substantive) scope of the Common European Sales Law (CESL), what it regulates or does not regulate, and how it relates to the remaining national law. It explores more specifically the implications of the EU nature of the CESL, i.e., the consequences of the fact that it is (European) Union law and not just another kind of Convention for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) where you can opt for. Although, as CISG, it is part of domestic law, its position is, in many other respects, different mainly because CISG is not Union law and the CESL is. As Union law, the CESL Regulation takes precedence over - the rest of - national law. The question of whether the CESL is - validly - chosen by the parties is thus not determined by the remaining national law but by CESL itself. CESL displaces the rules of the otherwise applicable law insofar as the issue falls within the scope of CESL. The article tries to settle some demarcation issues in this regard. Further, it explores the possible effects of the principle of effectiveness or effet utile applied to CESL and possible implications of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Finally, it explores whether a duty to allow CESL in domestic contracts may follow from national constitutional law.

Abstract: This contribution is, first of all, a reflection on the distribution of power in relation to private law in the context of multilevel government, on the one hand, and relativization of this power by a so-called law market, on the other hand. It is also a reflection on the notion that law is a balancing activity (balancing values or interests). The author argues in favour of maintaining a normative perspective instead of recognizing as law everything that pretends to be law. He also argues in favour of the classical separation of powers and discusses the legitimacy of lawmaking by the different branches of power. Notions like pluralism and diversity tend to hide political choices that undermine classical values as equality before the law and the application of the law of the land. After an analysis of the arguments in favour of or against a centralization of lawmaking power on the European level, the author argues in favour of a reversal of the actual principles of division of power between the European Union and the Member States and thus in favour of a European Civil Code (ECC) that may be amended by the Member States. Résumé: Notre contribution constitue d'abord une réflexion sur la distribution des pouvoirs en matière de droit privé dans un contexte de gouvernance à plusieurs niveaux d'une part et de relativisation de ce pouvoir par un soi-disant marché du droit d'autre part. C'est aussi une réflexion sur l'idée du droit comme activité de pesage (de valeurs ou intérêts). L'auteur défend le maintien d'une perspective normative plutôt que de reconnaître comme droit tout ce qui prétend l'âtre. Il défend une conception classique de séparation de pouvoirs et discute la légitimité de la production de normes juridiques par les différentes instances. Des notions comme pluralisme ou diversité tendent plutôt à cacher des choix politiques qui sapent des valeurs classiques comme l'égalité devant la loi ou l'application de la loi du territoire. Après une analyse des différents arguments pour et contre une centralisation du pouvoir de légiférer en droit privé au niveau européen, l'auteur défend une inversion des principes actuels de division de pouvoir entre l'Union et ses Etats membres, et dès lors en faveur d'un Code Civil Européen laissant aux Etats membres le pouvoir d'y apporter des variations.