Rafael Illescas Ortiz and Pilar Perales Viscasillas
This article aims to take a critical look at the proposed Common European Sales Law (CESL) and its field of application.
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to take a critical look at the proposed Common European Sales Law (CESL) and its field of application.
Design/methodology/approach
The article provides a comparative analysis of the scope of application of CESL with that of the Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods (CISG). The approach is critical in nature in that it questions the regulation of business‐to‐business (B2B) transactions under CESL. It also takes a critical look at the CESL and its coverage of three areas of contracting – sale of goods, supply of digital content, and supply of services.
Findings
The article exposes some of the shortcomings of the CESL in relation to its field of application.
Research limitations/implications
The CESL as proposed offers an optional regulation that complicates the law of transborder sales within the European Union (EU) and between EU member states and non‐EU states. The article recommends that CESL not extend its coverage to B2B transactions and leave transborder commercial transactions to the CISG. The article also suggests other changes to improve the CESL.
Practical implications
Further analysis is needed and more defined rules should be considered before CESL is enacted into law.
Originality/value
This article questions the wide scope of application of CESL. It further questions the rationality and practicality of the CESL's coverage of B2B transactions.
Details
Keywords
- Common European Sales Law (CESL)
- Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
- European Union cross‐borders sales
- Internet trading
- Consumer protection
- Opt‐in instruments
- EU Acquis
- Small to medium‐sized enterprises
- Supply of goods
- services
- and digital content
- Supply chain management
The “condohotel” is a type of condominium, which is most commonly used in tourist buildings, such as hotels, where investors can buy a private room/unit and offer it to a hotel…
Abstract
Purpose
The “condohotel” is a type of condominium, which is most commonly used in tourist buildings, such as hotels, where investors can buy a private room/unit and offer it to a hotel company, which manages the “condohotel” and offers the units to guests through an accommodation contract. According to the Spanish regions called autonomous communities that provide a special legal framework for “condohotels”, room owners are also permitted to use their units for a specific period. However, residential use is prohibited. In exchange, the hotel company pays a part of its profit to those owners. This paper aims to analyse how the “condohotel” regime works in Spain and what the main weaknesses are that explain its limited success, despite the importance of the real estate and tourist sectors and the popularity of the condominium regime in this country.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the complex concept of “condohotel” is explained. The role of the participating parties is examined along with the supplementary legal regimes that are applied to identify the reasons why it has had a limited success and how its regulation could be improved.
Findings
This paper identifies the changes that are needed to address the relative failure of this regime in Spain, as “condohotels” can be an attractive type of alternative accommodation for someone interested in hotel services or for retired people who want to stay some months of the year in the beautiful and sunny Spain with all the amenities of a hotel or for those who need to live in a place for a few months for work reasons.
Research limitations/implications
This paper identifies different contracts to cede private units to hotel company. However, further research is necessary to identify which contract is the best option or if it could be a mixture of them.
Originality/value
The “condohotels” facilitate becoming an owner of a hotel room or unit of another tourist establishment under the condominium regime. However, the unit can only be used for tourist purposes. Despite this limitation, “condohotels” might potentially be used not only as a second residence or a tourist solution but also as a temporal housing solution or as an investment to obtain some extra income. Thus, it is worthwhile improving the legal framework and offering more legal certainty to the parties that intervene in this regime.