OVERRIDING MANDATORY PROVISIONS IN A EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Depois de um longo e gradual processo de harmonização do Direito Internacional Privado no contexto da União Europeia através da criação de Regulamentos aplicáveis a matérias sectoriais, é pertinente refletir acerca da integração das chamadas normas de aplicação imediata (overriding mandatory provisions) no sistema de DIP Europeu. O presente texto visa, assim, tecer algumas considerações acerca do lugar desta categoria de norma nesse sistema. Não se pretende ensaiar uma “teoria geral” exaustiva de uma (por ora) hipotética categoria de norma de aplicação imediata “europeia”, mas apenas propor um esboço das bases dogmáticas dessa mesma categoria, juntamente com algumas considerações acerca do possível desenvolvimento que esta teoria poderá eventualmente ter. Following a long and steady process of harmonization of Private International Law within the European Union through the creation of Regulations applicable to specific fields of law, it is fitting to consider the integration of overriding mandatory provisions in the EU PIL system. Thus, the text at hand intends to ponder over the place of this category of provision in that same system. The text does not intend to describe a comprehensive “general theory” of a (currently) hypothetical category of European overriding mandatory provision, but rather, to propose a basic theoretical framework for that same category, along with some remarks on the possible development that this category of provision may possibly undertake. I. Introduction 1. Introductory Note 2. Structure II. The Concept of “Overriding Mandatory Provision” 1. Operative Definition III. EU Law and Overriding Mandatory Provisions 1. Preliminary Considerations 2. State of the Art in EU Law A. Primary Law B. Secondary Law C. Case Law D. EU-influenced OMPs in National Law(s) E. Preliminary Conclusion 3. European OMPs in Specific. Analysis and normative approach A. Introduction B. EU OMP Competence and the Principle of Subsidiarity C. Sources of Law D. Theoretical Configuration. Certain Aspects E. Preliminary Conclusion / Potential EU OMPs IV. Consequences of the Existence of European-based OMPs 1. Introduction 2. Impact on the General Theory of OMPs 3. Impact on National and European powers and policies A. European Legislative/Judicial Powers and Policies B. National Legislative/Judicial Powers and Policies 4. Economic Analysis – Regulatory Competition in the EU and OMPs 5. Implications Regarding the European Integration Process V. Conclusion Bibliography