Latvian Contract Law and the EU

• Author: Kalvis Torgans
• Pages: 38-43

Kalvis Torgans

Latvian Contract Law and the EU

Contract law has for centuries promoted international trade and complied with the necessities of international economic relations. As a result of tight integration of EU countries, breaking of obstacles for free movement of capital, goods, services and labour, new trends are appearing in contract law. Latvia, in accordance with the decision made by EU Council in Helsinki, in December 1999, has already commenced discussion on entry into the EU. Significant work has already been accomplished for the harmonisation of the law of Latvia with the law of the EU. However, the EU does not require complete unification of the law. The law of each country has differences and such differences shall remain. Law is a rather conservative social category and therefore when talking about common law, the peculiarity should be taken into consideration. Even one legal regulation, for example, on the moment of concluding a contract or on a right to terminate a contract can cause disputes and conflicts during the execution of the contract.

Generally Latvian private law belongs to the community of law of continental Europe, however we all know that even the law of Germany and France may not be acknowledged as identical. The European Union includes both countries with continental European law and common law systems. In practice that still does not trouble economic relationships too much. Endeavours to bring closer the aforementioned systems should be appreciated. Principles of International Commercial Contracts drafted by UNIDROIT and Principles of European Contract Law recently finalised by the Lando Commission show that at least theoretical progress may be reached in this area. Meanwhile, it can be predicted that implementation of theoretic conclusions in specific legal acts shall require a long time period. However, in some cases an elaboration of such principles can turn the interpretation of already existing legal regulations in another direction. It appears more often in Common Law countries, but can also happen in the countries of continental Europe.

1. Variety of contract types

Matters of concluding and execution of contracts, as well as general principles of liability are subject to the Civil Law of the year 1937 reintroduced in parts in 1992 and 1993 respectively¹. Since the reintroduction, the 4^th part of the CLA has neither been amended nor perfected. However, many other laws have been adopted, which detail and develop specific types of contracts within the limits and basis of general principles of CLA. Several laws and regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers can be mentioned, which, beside other transport related issues covered by them, regulate carriage as well. They are: Latvian maritime rules (Maritime Code) and Aviation Act, both adopted in 1994, Cargo Act, adopted in 1995, Road Traffic Act, adopted in 1997 and Railway Shipping Act, adopted in 2001. During preparation of the said laws, provisions on transport were harmonised with the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) of 19 May 1956, and the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage (CVR) of 1 March 1973. Latvia joined the aforementioned conventions by adopting the laws in December 1993². Unlike carriage, the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, which Latvia joined by adopting a law on 19 June 1997 ³ , is not incorporated in the national law of Latvia. Similarly, UNIDROIT conventions on international financial leasing and international factoring ⁴ are not incorporated in the national law. By adopting the Consumer Protection Act (18 March 1999) ⁵ complying with the standards of Europe, four specific consumer contracts came into legal force, regulation of which is detailed in the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. They are distance contracts, doorstep sales, time-sharing and consumer credit contracts. Separate laws detail provisions on rent of residential dwelling, land lease, labour contract, contracts in respect of intellectual property and other. The Insurance Contract Act (10 June 1998) ⁶ is significant for the issues covered therein. It is important that elaboration of laws in recent years has been performed in due compliance of respective EU directives and international conventions. Experts from the EU frequently participate in the preparation of legal acts. Now and then unusual legal constructions can be faced. For example, in accordance with the tradition of Latvian legislation, obligations and liability usually are included in the same law. In 1996, the Saeima (Latvian parliament) approved the Safety of Goods and Services and Liability of Manufacturers and Service Providers Act ⁷ with EU regulations included of course. However, several experts questioned whether such "Latvian" treatment observes and includes completely entire terms of respective EU directives. As a result on 20 June 2000, the Saeima adopted two new laws: the Safety of Goods and Services Act and the Liability For Deficiencies of Goods and Services Act. Thus, in this sphere Latvia has harmonised with the EU not only by content but also by the number and form of laws. However, Latvia has introduced a surprise-worthy novelty by including in the Consumer Protection Act a provision acknowledging not only an individual as a consumer, but a legal entity as well, if the legal entity has acquired goods or services for no direct entrepreneurial purposes (section 1 of the Act). The existence of such a "national feature" may not be anticipated, but execution of the said provision will cause problems.

Legislators are working on the adoption of the Commercial Act in accordance with the approved concept providing also for a section on Commercial Transactions. The Saeima adopted the first three sections of the Commercial Act on 13 April 2000⁸. Those regulate: (1) general rules of commercial activities, (2) types of entrepreneurs (individual entrepreneur, personal...