Bibliographie sélective OHADA

This study has two purposes. First, it intends to clarify to what extent there is a right of direct action in Swedish law. Second, it attempts to establish the implications of different rules governing the direct action claim. The concept of direct action is used where the following conditions are fulfilled. (1) A creditor (C) is entitled to make a claim against his debtor's (D's) debtor, or the debtor of his debtor's debtor etc., or both, (against DD). (2) C's right remains the same where D (or an intermediary party) goes bankrupt or a seizure is made of the relevant claim against DD. (3) C's claim against DD does not exceed his claim against D. (4) C's claim against DD does not exceed D's (or an intermediary party's) claim against DD, or the claim that D (or an intermediary party) would have had against DD, if there had been no excuses from liability. (5) DD's performance to C will entail a corresponding reduction of C's claim against D. (6) C's right to bring action against DD is independent of (other) recognisedprinciples of law. Analyses are made of cases where D has concluded a transaction with C on DD's behalf but in his own name or without authority, and cases where DD has, in a contract with D, assumed an obligation, which is closely linked to D's obligation towards C. The study also includes cases where a breach of contract by DD has caused a breach of contract by D against C, and cases where DD's tortious act (or omission) or breach of contract against D has caused consequential loss to C.

Le discours doctrinal a un caractere theorique singulier. Descriptions de l'etat du droit positif et prescriptions pour en changer s'y conjuguent inseparablement. Toutes produisent des representations de la realite que la connaissance juridique va assimiler et qui joueront un role cle dans ses mutations. Mais le droit toujours se dedouble. Systeme formel hierarchise de normes d'une part, ensemble informel anarchique de questions d'autre part. Et entre les deux, entre la validite des regles et les ambiguites de leur contenu, entre la determination des regles applicables et l'opportunite politique de leur application : il y aura toujours l'argumentation. L'examen de l'usage doctrinal des concepts de " permanence ", d'" unite " ou de " securite juridique " montre l'ambivalence du discours des juristes. En toute neutralite, la doctrine decrit et prescrit les solutions positives et futures par un discours qui mele l'ambigu au tabou, l'indicible au non-dit, et le mythe a l'esprit de la loi ou de la jurisprudence. Est-ce alors infamant de presenter la doctrine de droit prive comme gardienne d'un temple ou l'on preche le culte de la solution unique ? serait-ce un blaspheme d'en denoncer le dogme ? serait-il heretique de penser que les juristes se nourrissent d'illusions ? serait-il plus calomnieux encore de dire que loin de se bercer d'illusions, les juristes sont en realite des illusionnistes ? le dogme de la solution unique est une croyance trop simpliste aujourd'hui pour que les juristes y adherent mais il les sert et les rassure. C'est une rhetorique, voire une sophistique, de l'eviction des solutions possibles dont ils usent comme substitut d'une theorie de leur propre discours.

Le droit réel de disposer, et specialement le quasi-usufruit, est le droit de disposer du bien d'autrui pour son propre compte, comme le propriétaire lui-meme, mais a charge d'en respecter la destination et d'en assurer la restitution à l'identique, en équivalent ou en valeur. Il remplit une fonction de credit immediat ou une fonction de credit a moyen ou long terme, selon qu'il prend la forme d'un quasi-usufruit ou d'un gage ou d'une hypotheque. Quasi-usufruitier, depositaire irregulier, creancier gagiste ou hypothecaire, sont, en effet, tous titulaires d'un droit reel de disposer : ils ont le droit de detruire le bien d'autrui, de l'aliener ou de le grever de droits reels, pour leur profit personnel et sans en devenir proprietaires. Car leur droit de disposer est distinct de celui inclus dans la propriete (v. Art. 544 c. Civ. ). Il est autonome et ne s'identifie pas a un mode d'acquisition de la propriete d'autrui ou a un diminutif du droit de propriete : c'est un droit reel forme d'une utilite du bien d'autrui (l'abusus), constitue par l'affectation de la valeur du bien d'autrui au disposant ou a un bien du disposant, et soumis au droit de propriete de celui-ci. Il est dote d'un regime juridique precis : il suit les regles de constitution et d'extinction des droits patrimoniaux, sous reserve des adaptations imposees par son contenu (l'abusus), par son objet (notamment les biens incorporels) ou par le contrat qui le porte (par exemple le contrat de depot qui prend alors la configuration du depot irregulier et se distingue du pret de consommation puisqu'il n'est pas translatif de propriete).

The concepts public policy and public interest often obtain an imprecise content as a criterion for contractual justice in South African law. The consequence of this is some degree of legal uncertainty. This is the problem raised in the present dissertation. From the cases and literature the causes of the problem became clearer and it became evident that the correct basis to deal with this problem is the systematisation of this sphere of the law of contract, which also implies the circumspect dealing with concepts. This was confirmed by the examination of a number of foreign legal systems. It appeared moreover that in these systems too, general criteria are used to evaluate contractual justice, namely: in German law the concepts gute Sitten and Treu und Glauben, in Dutch law the concepts goede zeden, openbare orde, as well as redelijkheid en billijkheid (goede trouw) and in English law the concept public policy and possibly in future also the concept good faith. The foreign systems furthermore provided some solutions regarding the practical implementation of the systematisation. The proposed systematisation firstly implies that public policy and public interest should be understood correctly as a general criterion in this sphere, which means that it has a normative character as well as a flexible nature, which necessarily causes some degree of legal uncertainty. It also implies that public policy and public interest - correctly orientated - should be seen as pivotal to one of the requirements for a valid contract, which is traditionally known as the requirement of legality, but which probably should rather be known as the requirement of lawfulness. This requirement should in addition be understood in a broad sense as also relating to the effect of contracts, and consequently to contractual justice, seen as the relative balance between the interests of the parties. The systematisation furthermore includes the understanding that in this sphere a judge has a limited discretion in exercising a law-creating power. The discretion is limited, especially to prevent a judge from reaching a decision on account of a purely subjective opinion. Regarding this limited discretion an established system of guidelines currently does not exist in South African law, but in the present dissertation a step in this direction was made. The gist of these guidelines is that the nature and the context of the relevant contract or contract term should be observed. The individual case should, however, not be over-emphasised, since that may lead to a superabundance of legal uncertainty and to the misuse of public policy and public interest as a defence. Regarding practical application the systematisation includes in short that various facets of public policy and public interest are distinguished, namely legislation and common law, established views and customs (boni mores), and thirdly public policy and public interest as such, concretised by the concept good faith as the underlying principle. It is submitted that the proposed systematisation could contribute to decreasing the imprecise use of the concepts public policy and public interest and concomitant legal uncertainty.

Ce travail traite du pluralisme juridique en matière de successions foncieres et des conflits de lois et de juridictions qu'il engendre au plan interne en Afrique noire, notamment au Bénin. Cette question, qui, dans un pays de droit officiellement uniformise, serait sans grand interet, devient particulierement interessante dans un contexte de dualite des statuts civils et reels. En effet tous les individus ne sont pas soumis au meme statut personnel : certains sont soumis au statut moderne, d'autres au statut traditionnel. Le droit des successions est regi par deux systemes successoraux avec des concepts et des regles parfois opposes. De meme, le systeme foncier est dualiste : au systeme foncier traditionnel domine par la propriete collective lignagere s'oppose le systeme moderne fonde sur l'appropriation (au sens du code civil) individuelle. En effet, comme au plan iternational, l'existence de plusieurs ordres juridiques d'application simultanee engendre egalement au plan interne des conflits de lois interpersonnels. C'est cette situation complexe qui fait des successions foncieres un sujet particulierement interessant. La question se pose de savoir si, dans l'ordre juridique traditionnel, la terre peut etre transmise par succession. Puis, quelle est la loi applicable a la succession, notamment en cas de successions mixtes ? L'absence de regles de solutions claires et precises chez le legislateur, les meandres de la jurisprudence et les controverses doctrinales rendent toute reponse precise peu aisee. C'est a ce probleme que le present travail, a l'analyse de la legislation, de la jurisprudence et de la doctrine ainsi qu'au vu des resultats de recherches sur le terrain, tente de degager certaines solutions pouvant servir de base a une reforme necessaire.

Defence date: 26 October 1998

The Law of International Maritime Boundaries is characterized by an evolution that can be noticed at many levels. These levels include the application of equitable principles, the criteria for delimitation, the basis of title, the techniques, the methods and the applicable law. This legal evolution, which is deep-rooted in a case by case approach has not always led to greater predictability and consistency of the judicial and arbitral decisions. One should keep in mind the fact that each case is a unicum. From the 1969 pioneer North Continental Shelf Case to recent decisions, the position of the I.C.J. is well-established: there is not one method of delimitation which is predetermined or privileged, which takes priority or which is of mandatory application. The ultimate goal consists in drawing an equitable maritime boundary between coastal States. In Jan Mayen Case (Denmark/ Norway Case 1993), the I.C.J. made two major developments by considering in one hand the equidistance provision first codified at article 6 of Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf as a provisional method of delimitation. On the other hand, the Court gave notable effect to socio-economic factors which, prior to that case, had been constantly dismissed because of their subjectivity, variability and momentary nature (Tunisia/ Libya Case 1982). Regarding the basis of the title, progress from natural prolongation as the traditional basis of the title to 200 miles distance from the shoreline as the new basis of the title (Libya/ Malta Case 1985) should be noted. As for the application of equitable principles, one can say that they are progressively losing their variability. For the judge, in fact, equitable principles must be of an objective nature based mainly on coastal geography in order to be of general application. With regard to applicable law issues, besides the 1958 Geneva Convention, States now have recourse to the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, States practice, jurisprudence, and rules of customary international law. In respect of that law which is evolving with its uncertainties, we have tried to lay stress on the contributions of African States to its development. We wanted to verify to what extent those States have played a significant part in the progressive development of the Law of the Sea in general and particularly with regard the law of maritime boundary delimitation. We have emphasized in the first part of our analysis, the evolution of the law of maritime boundaries. In the second part, we have analysed in two steps African contributions. We have concluded that African Coastal States should, as much as possible and in line with the trend to peaceful cooperation at sea in Africa, avoid resolving disputes through litigation. After having defined their maritime priorities, policies and strategies, States should use diplomatic negotiations to settle their maritime boundary disputes. They can also, as a supplementary approach, set up Joint Development Zones or provide for Joint Exploitation of their marine resources as an interim approach to disputes resolution. We have analyzed the legal implications of such regimes in the prospective case between Ivory Coast and Ghana. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This work considers two broad aspects of consumer law, namely, substantive and practical protection of consumer rights. The former examines the law on consumer protection as contained in the statute books and judicial decisions. The latter deals withthe law in practice. This considers the practical implementation of the various laws on consumer protection by the operative agencies. It also examines the practical effects of these laws on the level of consumer protection. The work is divided into ten chapters.Chapter one gives a survey of consumer protection in different jurisdictions. It also states the research problems, objectives of the study, hypotheses, scope, signi ticance of the work, conceptual frame work and literature review.Chapter two discusses the methodology adopted in this work. Chapter three considers the laws gov.erning dealings in regulated products. These products are food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water, chemicals and hazardous products. It is seen from this chapter that the law makes reasonable provtsfc;ns on the control of regulated products. In contrast, the level of practical protection bas remained low due to weak enforcement system.Chapter four examines the laws which impose further restrictions on dealings in drugs. This reveals that the law adequately controls dealings in drugs . But like the case of laws considered in the preceding chapter, implementation of the statutory provisions remains a problem.Chapter jive examines the functions and activities of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria whose duty it is to prescribe and ensure compliance with product standards. Like the cases of the agencies discussed in the previous chapters, a major problem facing the organisation is the ineffective implementation of its standards.Chapter six discusses the civil liability of an offender to the victim. This chapter reveals that a person whose product causes injury to the person or property of another, is civilly liable to that other person. His liability is without prejudice to his criminalliability. Chapter seven examines the course of action open to a claimant who is not in privity of contract with the defendant. This chapter reveals that such a claimant can sue in the tort of negligence. But his chances of success are greatly limited by the restrictive meaning accorded the term "product defect" in tort law. Proof of negligence also constitutes an almost insurmountable obstacle. The chapter concludes that as a way of getting round the problem of proof of negligence, there is need to introduce strict product liability in selected cases particularly in the fields of pharmaceuticals and articles of food. Chapter eight examines the contractual rights of a consumer/purchaser. This chapter shows that action in contract is of immense benefit to the claimant because he does not have to prove negligence on the part of the other contracting party. In addition, liability is strict since an exercise of due care will not absolve the offender. But this course of action is of limited application because it is not available ta a consumer who is not also the buyer of the product. This chapter concludes like the preceding one that the only solution ta the basic contract requirements is the introduction of strict liability in selected areas. Chapter nine analyses the data on the practical implementation of consumer laws, while chapter ten summarises our research findings and proffers some suggestions.

Little attention is paid to the civil remedies available when infringement of a trade mark or the right to goodwill occurs. Yet, for the owners of ~uch rights, these remedies are of much greater importance than theoretical considerations regarding the nature of the rights or what constitutes their infringement. This thesis analyses the civil remedies for trade mark infringement granted by the South African Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993. In the South African context, any consideration of civil remedies is rendered problematic by the attempted graft of English remedies onto a legal system with a different common-law background. It is, therefore, essential first to trace the English origin and application of these remedies, and then to determine whether each remedy is acceptable in terms of the South African common law. This is necessary, as our courts have previously rejected or adapted English remedies which were unknown to our common law but which Parliament introduced in legislation. The remedies of interdict (or injunction) in final and interlocutory form, compensatory damages, reasonable royalties, and delivery up are analysed from a substantive law and a procedural perspective. The procedural innovation of an inquiry as to damages is also considered. In respect of each remedy, (1) the English roots and development of the remedy are traced; (2) differences of approach in two other Commonwealth jurisdictions, Australia and Canada, are highlighted; (3) the development of the South African equivalent is detailed; and (4) suggestions for the future implementation of the remedy in South Africa are made. In the penultimate chapter, our common law and legislation (including the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 ) are measured against the requirements of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Recommendations for the effective utilization of each remedy in South Africa are then made. They include suggestions for legislative amendment in respect of delivery up and an inquiry as to damages, and the introduction of statutory damages as an further civil remedy.

This is a collection of essays about the restraint of trade doctrine as laid down in the courts of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. Generally, I will not give an account of the restraint of trade doctrine in the United States of America, for even although each individual state (apart from the civil jurisdictions California and Louisiana) and the federation itself, has a common law system, for reasons peculiar to those jurisdictions, the restraint of trade case law there has become so vast and so confused as to be unsuitable for my purposes. More importantly, however, the common law restraint of trade doctrine in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth has been laid down by courts without any significant consideration of the state of the law in the United States. Davies v Davies (1887) 36 Ch D 359, 370 by contrast, the period during which the Privy Council operated as a supra national court of final appeal has resulted in considerable harmony in the doctrine within the British Commonwealth. Even now the House of Lords is influential in Australia and Canada and the influence is increasingly reciprocal. By way of an exception I will discuss the purposes of the anti-trust legislation in the United States. This is necessary because I intend to show that the common law restraint of trade doctrine was not able to be, and was never intended to be, a means of regulating the economy in contradistinction to the United States anti-trust legislation and related legislation in the British Commonwealth. This account is not merely a description of the law relating to the restraint of trade doctrine although I do purport to describe the law. There are other accounts of the restraint of trade doctrine which do that well. Accounts of the restraint of trade doctrine include: Matthews & Adler, The Law Relating to Covenants in Restraints of Trade (London, 2nd ed 1907); Sanderson, Restraint of Trade in English law (London, 1926); Heydon, The Restraint of Trade Doctrine (London, 1971); Trebilcock, The Common Law of Restraint of Trade; A Legal and Economic Analysis (Toronto, 1986); Dean, The Law of Trade Secrets (Sydney, 1990); Mehigan & Griffiths, Restraint of Trade and Business Secrets: Law & Practice (London, 2nd ed 1991); Holdsworth, History of English Law IV (3rd ed, 1945) 343-54, 373-9; VIII (2nd ed, 1937) 56-42. There are other, less detailed accounts in contract law textbooks. The purpose of this dissertation is to describe aspects of the doctrine as it developed between the medieval period and the twentieth century and then to use that account as a basis for an analysis of how the law has taken a number of paths during the twentieth century which cannot be justified by the rules and their justifications which existed in the law prior to that time. Such a development has had important consequences for the restraint of trade doctrine and even the law in general, most of which have been detrimental. I do not intend to give a continuous historical narrative covering the whole of the doctrine. The history has been described before. For example, I do not intend to give a discrete account of the process by which the absolute rule against general restraints of trade gave way to the rule of reason, although I do mention this process where relevant for other purposes. The history, so far as it is relevant, is integrated into each chapter. I will argue that historically the restraint of trade doctrine was a rule or complex of rules, of a certain form and content. The form and content of the rule are important because they bear on the meaning of the class term "restraint of trade" which is an element of the rule. The meaning of that term began to change around the year 1890. Beginning first with certain classes of trade combination, courts began to classify as restraints of trade covenants which did not in fact restrain trade. Then the courts similarly treated the exclusive dealing contract and certain forms of property transaction. Another trend in the law which added to the confusion about the meaning of restraint of trade was the failure by the courts to make definitive findings one way or another as to whether a particular covenant was in restraint of trade. The courts were then faced with a dilemma. The law required a court to refuse to enforce a covenant in restraint of trade unless the covenantee could justify the restraint by presenting evidence to the court from which the courts could assess whether or not that particular restraint was within the reason for the restraint of trade doctrine or not. Such considerations were entirely inapt in the case of covenants which, in accordance with the traditional view, did not restrain trade. Yet if the courts did not validate these contracts, catastrophic consequences would have followed for the parties to such contracts and, indeed, to contract as an institution. To solve the dilemma the courts began to interpret the famous statement of the restraint of trade doctrine by Lord Macnaghten in Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns & Ammunition Co [1894] AC 535, 565 (HL) literally, rather than contextually. Ultimately this has resulted in the obscuring of the rule underlying the restraint of trade doctrine itself. There were many minor confusions along the way. It is important that the doctrine is coherent and its use consistent with its justifications because it is still a fruitful cause of legal change. In the last year the force of the rule has caused a radical restructuring of Association Football in Europe Bosman’s case. The rule has even penetrated the collective consciousness of the community at large. The broad thrust of the development and the detail will be outlined in the next thirteen chapters.

Theorising again about a topic that has already received a great deal of scientific attention may be viewed, to use some well known words of Camus, as "the ultimately absurd act" (Camus, 1975). Precisely in order to avoid, when dealing with a classic topic, falling into the absurd, or what is only slightly better, into the banal, it is necessary to use afresh methodological and conceptual tools. This should allow one to pose new questions and, finally, open up new intellectual perspectives. Conversely, the distance that one is to cover needs to be not too far removed from current paradigms. Otherwise one may fall into a different kind of trap -that of offering a contribution which is interesting but totally useless, as it were, for the purpose of shedding new light on the ongoing debate. In fact the main trigger for embarking on this project was a reaction to what were current legal critiques of the principle of subsidiarity at a given moment. Though I conceded that a critical outlook should be taken as regards subsidiarity, and no mere review of the principle in legal-technical terms, the standard critique left me with the bitter taste of scientific dissatisfaction. In my view it seemed, at best, to entirely miss the point as regards the issues, that were raised by the introduction of subsidiarity into the constitutional order of the Community, which, in turn, implied that the answers that were given were also clearly unsuitable. I therefore underwent the effort of giving an alternative critical reading of the principle of subsidiarity, the result of which constitutes the thrust of this thesis. Yet before entering into the following critique, it is important to make, by way of introduction, a number of remarks concerning (i) the genealogy of this thesis; (ii) the method; (iii) conceptual issues; (iv) the exposition of the main research hypothesis according to which this work shall be conducted; and (v) the structure of this thesis.

Come viene tradizionalmente notato, tra i pilastri di ogni moderno sistema processuale vi è il principio dell'effettività della tutela giurisdizionale, il quale principio richiede che sia garantito all'attore che può avere ragione il conseguimento pratico del bene che gli è riconosciuto dalla legge. Vi è però il pericolo che il tempo necessario allo svolgersi dei processo ordinario faccia giungere troppo tardi il provvedimento definitivo, perché nel frattempo si sono verificate circostanza tali da rendere impossibile (o più gravosa) l'attuazione pratica della sentenza di accoglimento della domanda giudiziale. Si tratta quindi di risolvere quello che è stato definito 'forse il più antico e più difficile problema pratico di ogni legislazione processuale': la necessità che il provvedimento definitivo, 'per essere praticamente efficace, sia emanato senza ritardo e la inettitudine del processo ordinario a creare senza ritardo un provvedimento definitivo'. Occorre in altri termini regolare 'uno di quei casi in cui la necessità di far presto si urta contro la necessità di far bene: affinchè il provvedimento definitivo nasca colle migliori garanzie di giustizia, esso dev’essere preceduto dal regolare e meditato svolgimento di tutta una serie di attività, al compimento delle quali è necessario un periodo, spesso non breve, di attesa; ma questa mora indispensabile al compimento dell'ordinario iter processuale rischia di rendere praticamente inefficace il provvedimento definitivo, il quale pare essere destinato, per amor di perfezione, a giunger troppo tardi, come la medicina lungamente elaborata per un ammalato già morto. Per neutralizzare il rischio di inefficacia pratica della tutela giurisdizionale derivante dalla durata fisiologica del processo ordinario, normalmente i sistemi processuali degli ordinamenti interni prevedono che il giudice possa proteggere medio tempore la posizione giuridica sostanziale dedotta in giudizio, in attesa della decisione finale. Per riferirsi all'insieme dei rimedi, di natura tipica o atipica, cui il giudice ricorre a tale scopo, nella terminologia italiana si ricorre all'espressione "provvedimenti cautelari", che può considerarsi equivalente a quelle correntemente utilizzate in ordinamenti stranieri (me sur es proviso ires, medidas cautelar es, provisionai reme dies, Vorsorgliche Rechtsschutz).

This thesis examines problems related to particular labor laws currently applied in international air transport. This analysis is framed within the context of scholarly theory and judicial practice arising from various regimes of labor law governing industrial injury, the individual contract of employment, labor-management relations, and fair treatment in the civil aviation industry. A critical survey of labor regulations operating in the international air transport industry is provided through commentary on the principles formulated by judicial decisions and the theories which underlie their reasoning, helping to clarify both substantive and procedural labor laws affecting international air transport. A critical analysis of different categories of statutory labor law governing international air transport is also provided to assess the validity of commonly-erected conflict of labor law rules, thereby revealing the inadequacy of the single rule principle in view of the unique and perplexing regulatory interests which are inherent in aviation activity. The divergence between domestic labor statutes and Treaties of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation or bilateral air transport agreements also adds a more subtle aspect to the problems explored.

Obiettivo della tesi è analizzare il significato e l'evoluzione della Politica Comunitaria Preferenziale di Cooperazione allo Sviluppo. Tale lavoro di ricerca non intende essere un 'percorso storico', uno studio cronologico dell'evoluzione delle relazioni preferenziali con gli ACP, dal Trattato di Roma al Trattato di Maastricht. Piuttosto esso si prefigge di analizzare la Politica di Cooperazione allo Sviluppo preferenziale attraverso la sua trasformazione, avvenuta nella pratica comunitaria, da una situazione 'de facto', a una situazione 'de jure'. Ovvero il passaggio da 'relazioni di cooperazione', avviate fin dalle origini del sistema comunitario (Trattato di Roma), ad una reale Politica Comunitaria di Cooperazione con il riconoscimento specifico di una competenza in tale settore in capo alla Comunità (Trattato di Maastricht).

Delineare con precisione i confini di un lavoro di ricerca può non essere cosa agevole, soprattutto se si tratta di una ricerca di natura giuridica e giuslavoristica in particolare. 1 temi che ne costituiscono l’oggetto, non sono mai del tutto astraibili dallo scenario che li circonda, e rischiano quindi, se non debitamente contestualizzati, di essere erroneamente percepiti come oggetti sospesi nel vuoto di una solo apparente compiutezza. L’analisi giuridica della contrattazione collettiva comunitaria - oggetto di questo lavoro - non costituisce in questo senso una eccezione, trattandosi anzi di una materia che soltanto artificiosamente, potrebbe essere interamente esaurita nelle scarne norme positive che ne costituiscono il quadro giuridico di riferimento. Condotta unicamente attraverso lo studio dei riferimenti normativi ad essa propri, una indagine sulla contrattazione collettiva comunitaria risulterebbe non solo e non tanto metodologicamente discutibile, quanto e soprattutto deprivata di una serie di elementi di conoscenza e di valutazione, la cui considerazione si rivela in grado di produrre un rovesciamento degli esiti inizialmente preventivabili. Il lavoro che si presenta costituisce un tentativo di recuperare la “visibilità” di tutti i molteplici fattori - giuridici, istituzionali, politici e sindacali - che, convergendo sul medesimo spazio concettuale occupato dalla contrattazione comunitaria, contribuiscono a definirne e a qualificarne i contorni. La trattazione costituisce di conseguenza il risultato di uno sforzo ricostruttivo scandito dalla continua tensione tra le esigenze di una indagine analitica e le necessità di una valutazione sintetica; tra una fecalizzazione che rischia di nascondere il contesto e una visione d’insieme nella quale la nitidezza delle linee rischia di scomparire; tra i condizionamenti inerziali di una formazione giuslavoristica attenta alla dimensione ordinamentale delle relazioni industriali, e la necessaria considerazione delle complesse trame istituzionali che, in un ordinamento “plurale” come quello comunitario, condizionano qualsiasi forma di regolazione giuridica; insomma tra lo specifico oggetto della ricerca e il complessivo scenario nel quale esso si colloca.

One of the most immediate questions that could be raised is that of the topic. Why banks?. Banks are a part of the economy which is especially prone to regulatory competition. Increasing financial globalization makes it difficult to maintain regulatory barriers and those remaining create costs that are avoided by regulatory arbitrage. Banks’ raw material is capital which is a highly mobile element. On the top of that, the longstanding experience of the US in the field, should be of some usefulness. Finally, banks are attractive since the European Union, by means of the Second Banking Directive, has undertaken a decisive step towards liberalisation. Regulatory competition in this field will be able to give us some clues into the direction of services regulation in general, and into the new institutional dimension of the Union. However, banks are only one type of financial actors. Securities and insurance industry are gradually occupying spaces traditionally reserved to banks - namely deposit collection and lending - and conversely, banks are extending their product range to cover securities and insurance activities, and are experiencing a process of disintermediation. Hence, it is increasingly impossible to distinguish among financial actors. Concentrating in one of them is just a research need in order to keep the study under manageable dimension. Still, banks remain a legally different industry because of their position in the economic gear and in the payment system. What could actually be questioned is the future of banks themselves or at least their different legal treatment In any case, the topic of financial services regulation is too large to be covered as a whole, so some subdivision is necessary. This has to be done acknowledging that divisions may not correspond to the reality of the marketplace.

La Tesis Doctoral tiene por objeto trazar el aspecto de conjunto del fenómeno de la tarjeta de crédito. Tras la delimitación de la figura, realizada a partir de la consideración de sus orígenes y evolución, y luego de tratar del marco jurídico (Derecho Positivo Español, actuaciones de la Comunidad Europea, trabajos de la comisión de las Naciones Unidas para el Derecho Mercantil internacional), se estudian sus caracteres documentales:Idoneidad Legitimadora e Intransmisibilidad. Asimismo se presta atención a las posiciones jurídicas documentalmente representadas por la tarjeta de crédito y a los procedimientos de utilización, distinguiendo entre sus modalidades básicas: las denominadas tarjetas de crédito "bilaterales" y las "trilaterales".