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AN ADVANCED COURSE ON SPANISH LAW AND ECONOMICS

manuales

ADVANCED COURSE ON SPANISH LAW AND ECONOMICS AN

COORDINADORA

AUTORES

Eva M. Domínguez Pérez

Belén Alonso-Olea García Manuel Díaz Martínez Pablo de Diego Ángeles Eva M. Domínguez Pérez Cristina Elías Méndez Nuria González Rabanal Miryam de la Concepción González Rabanal Mónica Herranz Ballesteros Juan C. Menéndez Mato José Núñez Fernández

AN ADVANCED COURSE ON SPANISH LAW AND ECONOMICS Coordinadora

Eva M. Domínguez Pérez Autores

Belén Alonso-Olea García Manuel Díaz Martínez Pablo de Diego Ángeles Eva M. Domínguez Pérez Cristina Elías Méndez Nuria González Rabanal Miryam de la Concepción González Rabanal Mónica Herranz Ballesteros Juan C. Menéndez Mato José Núñez Fernández Traductor

Martin Kearns

Valencia, 2014

Copyright ® 2014 Todos los derechos reservados. Ni la totalidad ni parte de este libro puede reproducirse o transmitirse por ningún procedimiento electrónico o mecánico, incluyendo fotocopia, grabación magnética, o cualquier almacenamiento de información y sistema de recuperación sin permiso escrito de los autores y del editor.

En caso de erratas y actualizaciones, la Editorial Tirant lo Blanch publicará la pertinente corrección en la página web www.tirant.com (http://www.tirant.com).

© Eva M. Domínguez Pérez y otros

© TIRANT LO BLANCH EDITA: TIRANT LO BLANCH C/ Artes Gráficas, 14 - 46010 - Valencia TELFS.: 96/361 00 48 - 50 FAX: 96/369 41 51 Email:tlb@tirant.com http://www.tirant.com Librería virtual: http://www.tirant.es ISBN: 978-84-9086-283-4 MAQUETA: Tink Factoría de Color Si tiene alguna queja o sugerencia, envíenos un mail a: atencioncliente@tirant.com. En caso de no ser atendida su sugerencia, por favor, lea en www.tirant.net/index.php/empresa/politicas-de-empresa nuestro Procedimiento de quejas.

Índice PROLOGUE.................................................................................................................. 13 PRÓLOGO.................................................................................................................... 19

Chapter 1 AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPANISH ECONOMY Nuria González Rabanal Miryam de la Concepción González Rabanal 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SPANISH ECONOMY................................................... 23 2. GOOD AND SERVICES: SECTORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.......................... 24 2.1. Primary industry: agriculture............................................................................. 25 2.1.1. Recent Developments............................................................................ 25 2.1.2. A descriptive economic analysis of the agricultural subsector................ 26 2.1.3. An economic analysis of the livestock subsector.................................... 28 2.1.4. The situation in the fishing subsector..................................................... 29 2.2. The secondary sector: industry.......................................................................... 30 2.2.1. The recent development of Spanish industry.......................................... 31 2.2.2. The construction building sector........................................................... 33 2.2.3. The energy subsector............................................................................. 34 2.3. The third sector: services................................................................................... 37 2.3.1. The service sector in Spain..................................................................... 37 2.3.2. The tourism subsector........................................................................... 38

Chapter 2 THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF SPANISH LAW IN ITS CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT. THE GENERAL LEGAL PROTECTIONS PROVIDING FOR THE BASIC ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS. THE INTERACTION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ECONOMIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION Pablo de Diego Ángeles 1. THE SPANISH ECONOMY. INTRODUCTION. THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF SPANISH LAW................................................................................................... 44 2. THE CONSTITUTION AS AN INSPIRATIONAL STRUCTURE IN THE ECONOMIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK................................................................................... 45 2.1. Basic features of employment regulations and social security............................ 47 2.2. Commerce, Competition and Consumer Protection........................................... 48 2.2.1. Domestic trade...................................................................................... 48 2.2.2. Protection of competition...................................................................... 50

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2.3. The public sector economy as a limit, substitute and subsidiary of the private sector................................................................................................................ 51 2.3.1. Public sector finance; the regulation of public revenue and costs........... 53 2.3.2. The financial, banking and borrowing sector in Spain........................... 55 2.3.3. The general budget for the State and the various public administrations...................................................................................................... 56 2.3.4. The regulation of state and public sector accounts based on the public budget................................................................................................... 58

Chapter 3 SPANISH CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN THE FRAME OF MULTILEVEL CONSTITUTIONALISM Cristina Elías Méndez 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

MULTILEVEL CONSTITUTIONALISM................................................................. 61 THE CONSTITUTION AS THE SUPREME SOURCE OF LAW.............................. 62 A SOCIAL AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SUBJECT TO THE RULE OF LAW......... 64 THE SYSTEM OF RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES.......................................................... 65 THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATE......................................................................... 68 5.1. The Head of State. The Parlimentary Monarchy................................................ 68 5.2. The Government and the Administration.......................................................... 70 5.3. Parliament......................................................................................................... 75 5.4. Judicial Power................................................................................................... 82 5.5. The Constitutional Court.................................................................................. 83 6. THE AUTONOMOUS STATE.................................................................................. 88 6.1. The Autonomous Communities......................................................................... 89

Chapter 4 AN OUTLINE STUDY OF SPANISH CIVIL LAW Juan C. Menéndez Mato 1. GENERAL CIVIL LAW............................................................................................ 95 1.1. Approach.......................................................................................................... 95 1.2. The preliminary basis of the Civil Code and so-called Civil Constitutional law. 96 1.3. European Community Law............................................................................... 98 1.4. General Civil and local Private law................................................................... 99 2. PERSONAL RIGHTS............................................................................................... 101 3. THE LAW OF OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS............................................... 103 3.1. The new legal position of the contract............................................................... 103 3.2. The general theory of obligation....................................................................... 105 3.3. Contracts in particular. Their setting aside and the independence of certain sectors from the Civil law system.................................................................................. 106 3.4. The Law of Torts............................................................................................... 108 4. REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS..................................................................................... 109 4.1. The concept of Real Property rights.................................................................. 109

Índice

9

4.2. The current concept of Property........................................................................ 112 4.3. Specific Real Property rights.............................................................................. 113 4.4. Security and due notice as a basic criterion of legal ownership relations........... 114 4.4.1. Possession.............................................................................................. 114 4.4.2. The protection of registered property rights.......................................... 115 4.5. Major developments in Civil patrimonial law................................................... 115 5. FAMILY LAW AND INHERITANCE....................................................................... 118 5.1. Family law........................................................................................................ 118 5.2. The Law of inheritance..................................................................................... 120

Chapter 5 FEATURES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF SPANISH COMMERCIAL LAW Eva M. Domínguez Pérez 1. A CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL LAW, CODIFICATION AND UNIFICATION, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAW............................... 123 1.1. Civil and Commercial law, codification and unification..................................... 123 1.2. Private and Public Law...................................................................................... 125 2. GLOBALIZATION AND PRIVATE LAW................................................................ 126 3. THE BASICS OF COMMERCIAL LAW.................................................................. 126 3.1. Commercial Transactions.................................................................................. 126 3.2. The Sources of Commercial Law....................................................................... 127 3.3. The “market” and Commercial Law.................................................................. 128 3.4. Subjects of the market and Commercial Law.................................................... 128 3.4.1. Objects of trade in the market............................................................... 129 3.4.2. The commercial courts.......................................................................... 130 3.4.3. The Sectors that comprise Commercial Law.......................................... 131 3.4.3.1. Current trends in Commercial Law.......................................... 131 3.4.3.2. The main legal areas of current Commercial Law..................... 131 4. NEW APPROACHES TO COMMERCIAL LAW: THE DRAFT COMMERCIAL CODE....................................................................................................................... 133 4.1. The development of the draft Commercial Code............................................... 133 4.2. A general outline of the Commercial Code: its structure and content................ 134 4.2.1. Preliminary Title, Parts, Chapters and Sections...................................... 134 4.2.2. The “market” as a center of Commercial law in the Commercial Code. 134 4.2.3. Commercial matters as defined in the Commercial Code....................... 135 4.2.4. The “market operators” in the Commercial Code.................................. 135 4.2.5. The entrepreneur and the company (Part I)........................................... 137 4.2.6. Commercial companies (Part II)............................................................ 137 4.2.7. Competition Law and Industrial Property Law (Part III)....................... 138 4.2.8. Commercial obligations and contracts in general (Part IV).................... 138 4.2.9. Commercial contracts in particular (Part V).......................................... 139 4.2.10. Securities and payment and credit instruments (Part VI)........................... 139 4.2.11. Limitation and expiry periods of commercial obligations (Part VII)...... 139

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Chapter 6 SPANISH PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW SYSTEM: FEATURES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Mónica Herranz Ballesteros 1. THE PRESUMPTIONS AND OBJECT OF PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW..... 141 2. SECTORS REGULATED BY PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW........................... 142 3. SPANISH PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW......................................................... 142 3.1. The Classification of Spanish Private International Law.................................... 143 3.1.1. Introduction.......................................................................................... 143 3.1.2. State jurisdiction and the legal basis for the rules governing private international cases................................................................................. 143 3.2. The Structure of Spanish Private International Law.......................................... 144 3.2.1. Different sources: rules of state origin, international and European agreements............................................................................................ 144 3.2.2. The elements that contributed to the creation of the Spanish system of Private International Law: other factors and the known sources of private origin..................................................................................................... 150

Chapter 7 REVIEWING BASIC ASPECTS OF SPANISH CRIMINAL LAW José Núñez Fernández 1. THE CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL LAW.................................................................... 151 1.1. The Criminal law from a formal and objective perspective................................ 152 1.2. The Criminal law from a subjective perspective................................................ 156 1.3. The aims of the Criminal Law........................................................................... 156 1.3.1. The aims of Criminal Law within the Spanish legal system................... 157 2. THE BOUNDARIES OF CRIMINAL LAW.............................................................. 159 2.1. Introduction...................................................................................................... 159 2.2. The formal boundaries...................................................................................... 160 2.2.1. The subjective boundary........................................................................ 160 2.2.2. The objective boundary: the legality principle....................................... 161 2.3. The material boundaries.................................................................................... 166 2.3.1. The principle of fact.............................................................................. 166 2.3.2. The principle of exclusive protection of interests that allow the peaceful coexistence of individuals (harmfulness principle)................................. 167 2.3.3. The minimum and fragmentary criminal intervention principle............. 168 2.3.4. The personal responsibility principle..................................................... 169 2.3.5. The proportionality principle................................................................ 169 2.3.6. The humanity and dignity principle....................................................... 170 3. THE LEGAL CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR: ELEMENTS AND STRUCTURE AND CONSEQUENCES ACCORDING TO THE SPANISH CRIMINAL CODE....................................................................................................................... 171 3.1. The legal concept of criminal behaviour............................................................ 171 3.1.1. Human behaviour................................................................................. 172 3.1.2. Actus Reus and Mens Rea..................................................................... 172

Índice

11

3.1.2.1. The objective aspect also known as actus reus.......................... 172 3.1.2.2. The subjective aspect: Mens rea................................................ 174 3.1.3. Lack of justification............................................................................... 174 3.1.4. Guiltiness.............................................................................................. 174 3.1.5. Punishability.......................................................................................... 175 3.1.6. Imposition of a penalty.......................................................................... 177

Chapter 8 LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW Belén Alonso-Olea García 1. LABOUR LAW......................................................................................................... 180 1.1. Labour Law in the Spanish Constitution (CE)................................................... 180 1.2. Individual Right to Work.................................................................................. 185 1.3. Collective Right to Work................................................................................... 187 2. RIGHT TO SOCIAL SECURITY.............................................................................. 188 2.1. Social Security in the Spanish Constitution........................................................ 188 2.2. Foundations of the General Act on Social Security (LGSS)................................ 192 2.2.1. Schemes included under the Social Security system................................ 192 2.2.2. Contingencies protected under the Social Security System..................... 194 2.2.3. Forms of protection provided by the Social Security System.................. 195

Chapter 9 AN OUTLINE STUDY OF SPANISH PROCEDURAL LAW Manuel Díaz Martínez 1. CONCEPT AND ESSENTIAL DEFINITIONS......................................................... 199 2. THE RULES OF PROCEDURE: CONCEPTS AND CLASSES................................. 200 3. THE PROCEDURAL STRUCTURE......................................................................... 201 3.1. The declaratory process..................................................................................... 202 3.1.1. Opening arguments............................................................................... 202 3.1.2. Evidential Phase.................................................................................... 203 3.1.3. Decisions and sentence.......................................................................... 203 3.1.4. Appeals................................................................................................. 204 3.2. Execution.......................................................................................................... 205 3.3. Preventive measures.......................................................................................... 205 4. TYPES OF PROCESS............................................................................................... 206 4.1. Ordinary, summary and special procedures....................................................... 207 4.2. An outline of procedural areas.......................................................................... 207 4.2.1. Criminal Procedure............................................................................... 207 4.2.2. Constitutional Procedure....................................................................... 209 4.2.3. Administrative Procedure...................................................................... 210 4.2.4. Civil Procedure...................................................................................... 211 4.2.5. Employment Law Procedure.................................................................. 213

PROLOGUE This book represents the work of a group of law professors, mostly from the National University of Distance Education (UNED), within the framework of the Network of Educational Innovation VIII as convened by the UNED in (20142015). It offers an introduction to Spanish law, geared towards foreign students and academics wishing to familiarize themselves with the Spanish legal system.

Explaining something of how the book came into being is probably the best way to introduce the reader to its structure and purpose, and thereby to facilitate general understanding of its contents. To do this, we must go back to one of the International Mobility Programs best known in the framework of the European Union, for example the Erasmus program, which, as is well known, helps to facilitate the movement of students within the European Union allowing students from different Member States to attend some courses in other EU universities under the terms of the Erasmus Mobility Agreement.

It is not necessary to dwell on the good reception received by university students since the inception of the Erasmus Mobility Program, which along with other similar international programs have contributed to the Spanish university students having the opportunity to study other legal systems, and to gain a perspective on comparative law which undoubtedly enriches their legal training and personal experience while studying abroad. The success of the international Erasmus mobility program —even in recent times despite the economic difficulties that this program has also experienced— has also provided an incentive for the International Mobility Program for Teachers within the EU educational framework.

Moreover, in recent years the Faculty of Law at the UNED has developed a major international initiative, backed by the efficiency and expertise of the Office of Internationalization (Vice President for Internationalization), through which we offer a full package of information and high quality technical advice to those interested in international programs.

In line with this international spirit of mutual cooperation, the UNED has been the driving force for some years behind the Erasmus Summer Course (IP), which offers an educational framework of cooperation between the German and Dutch Open Universities. This course is held over a fortnight between June and July, with an annual rotating seat (Germany, Netherlands, and Spain). The program is intended for Dutch, German and Spanish students in the final year of their Bachelor of Laws degree who have been previously selected by the organizers of the course in each participating school. Successful students —who must have attained high academic standards and demonstrate a good knowledge of the course

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language (English)— have the opportunity to strengthen their legal knowledge of: criminal; civil; and commercial law; as well as legal practice and procedure; students also have the chance to develop a network of contacts with other foreign students, which is an valuable academic and personal experience.

Besides the Summer School, the Faculty of Law at the UNED participates in other international doctorate and masters’ degree projects, which demonstrate the conviction and interest shown by UNED students and teachers alike to the international context of their studies and work.

The idea of offering ​​ participating foreign students and teachers in the above Erasmus Summer School program the opportunity to gain an understanding of the Spanish legal system —that is both synthetic, clear and concise— is what inspired the present book. It is based on the earlier edition —“An Introductory Course on Spanish Law and Economics”, (2014) edited by Tirant lo Blanch, and coordinated by Prof. Pablo de Diego, who holds the chair of Economics at the Faculty of Law UNED, in addition to being Dean of the Faculty of European Law (UNED). Professor Diego is fully aware of the Erasmus Mobility Program and with the international aspect of academic training— and includes the work of those original authors in addition to new contributions.

The current book is not just a mere update of the previous edition, but has also been expanded to incorporate the most recent legislation as well as new articles; these include new pieces on Employment and Social Security Law as well as an introductory overview of Spanish Civil Law —subjects that were only touched on briefly in the previous edition and which because of their importance have been given more expanded treatment in the latest edition.

This book does not attempt to offer an exhaustive and in depth study of all aspects of Spanish law —though it does cover: economics; constitutional law; commercial; civil; criminal; procedural; and private international law; —but only to the extent that is most relevant and essential to gaining an overview of each subject. The authors have also aimed to include the most innovative legal reforms, as well as the most up to date changes to the rules within each discipline, this includes those legislative changes that are soon to become law. Finally, the authors have attempted to include matters likely to be of interest to law students who read the book. Thus this introduction is far from being a textbook that merely explains certain legal subjects, but rather it offers an up to date treatment and critical analysis of subjects germane to the Spanish legal system.

In order to provide the reader with a clear overview of the Spanish legal system, traditional academic footnotes have been deliberately omitted, though throughout the text some doctrinal and jurisprudential references are provided where particularly relevant. In line with this uncluttered editing approach the reader is supplied with a bibliographic reference at the end of each chapter. It is hoped that

Prologue

15

this structure will help lighten the text and not distract the reader from the main body of the work.

It is hoped that all the elements mentioned so far will contribute to a final work that is complete, clear and concise.

The production of this introductory guide was only possible thanks to the work of specialists in their respective areas of expertise who have contributed to creating a legal introduction that is both interesting and technically correct. To this end, the authors have addressed their contributions with rigor and seriousness, although constrained by the limited space that is necessary when producing a (collective) book of this type.

The book commences with a chapter on the Spanish economy by Miryam González Rabanal PhD., and Nuria González Rabanal PhD. The former has been a professor at the Law School of the UNED (Department of Applied Economics and Public Management) for twenty-five years and the latter is a professor at the thriving University of León. Their invaluable cooperation is based on the fact that contemporary Spanish economic and political history cannot be explained without making reference to its productive reality; that in historical terms has been characterized by the declining relevance of the primary sector as opposed to an ever growing tourist sector. In addition, the Spanish economy has experienced what economists refer to as a “real estate bubble”, characterized by generous loan facilities (that were considered limitless) that have facilitated an expansion in construction projects throughout Spain. The chapter will provide readers with an overview of the features that have characterized recent developments in the agricultural, livestock and fishing industry (the primary sector); as well as with regard to the topics of: industry; construction; energy; and tourism; with an emphasis on the most recent data in each area as well as proffering an explanation of the factors that can shed light on the performance of these sections of the Spanish economy, in particular with regard to construction and tourism.

Pablo de Diego Ángeles PhD. has written the chapter on the Spanish economic constitutional framework, in the light of the new Constitution whose drafting provided a new framework for the economy of a country recovering from dictatorship. The chapter succinctly refers to the constitutional regulation of the material relevant to the public and private sectors of the Spanish economy such as: the equitable redistribution of income and wealth; economic growth; stability; full employment; social security; and employment conditions. Regulation of basic aspects of commerce, competition, and consumer protection are also covered. In addition a brief analysis is provided of economic performance in the public sector; the financial system (banking and loans); a brief discussion of the revenue system; and a somewhat more in-depth study of the basic budgetary issues (including the

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Eva M. Domínguez Pérez

topic of budgetary stability, now the subject of specific Constitutional regulation (Article 135) to comply with Spain’s signing the Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, March 2, 2012).

Professor Cristina Elías Méndez, PhD., Department of Constitutional Law at UNED is Principal of the School of Legal Practice within the Law School.

She has contributed a valuable chapter on Spanish public law focused on basic constitutional issues such as: the separation of powers and the legal holders of such powers in Spain; overall aspects connected with the functioning of the public administration; and, above all else, territorial organization in Spain, given its idiosyncratic structure into a number of Autonomous Regions. In a succinct and rigorous fashion, Professor Elías effectively addresses all these issues.

Juan Carlos Menéndez Mato is Professor of Civil law at the UNED, and has contributed an entirely new chapter devoted to Civil law. This includes an overview of the entire subject, as well as more detailed discussion of such matters as: the Spanish Civil Code; the influence of European Community law on Spanish civil law; local private law; contractual rights and obligations; the law of Torts: Real property law; and finally Family law and inheritance law are discussed. Juan Carlos Menéndez Mato is a graduate in Law from the University of Oviedo (1993); Dottore in Giurisprudenza from the University of Pisa (1995); he also holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from the National University of Distance Education (UNED) (2000), a Master in International and European law awarded by the Catholic University of Leuven (2004), and he is Doctor of Law with Honors from the University of Oviedo (1998). Currently he is Associate Professor and member of the Law Department at the National University of Distance Education (UNED). He is author of numerous contributions on a wide variety of topics in various legal journals, and he has also enjoyed research stays that include, among others, the Università degli Studi di Pisa; Robert Schuman University of Strasbourg; the Sorbonne in Paris; and the Catholic University of Leuven.

Professor Eva Domínguez Pérez, PhD., is a Professor in the UNED’s Commercial law department. She has contributed a chapter providing a broad focus on commercial law. Following a short description of the basics of Civil law and the codification problems that have arisen in the field of Private law as a whole, she goes on to describe the new challenges in this area, especially with regard to commercial law that along with other areas of the law has had to adapt itself to the new realities of the market. What defines modern commercial law is the subject’s ability to expand its field of application, reaching far beyond the domain of the individual entrepreneur and the commercial establishment, to include the trader in non-commercial traffic, as well as those active in the market outside the strict notions of what amounts to a commercial establishment. Proof of which is the general character of bankruptcy law, that is applicable to all classes of debtor, or

Prologue

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the new systems of signing contracts based on the general principles of contract law, including issues and provisions for contracting parties who are not physically present. Competition Law is another area of the law that has also experienced fundamental changes applicable to anyone who participates in the market —be they a businessman/woman or not— and the new orientation of this legal sector particularly with regard to protection of competition. Finally, evidently the consumer’s participation in the market must be regulated by law, and this in turn has generated an abundant regulatory legacy that, provides the basis for the consumers’ legal rights. Clearly such changing circumstances have posed new challenges for commercial law which it has attempted to address, and these answers are discussed in the present book. Prof. Domínguez Pérez —Doctor of Law with Honors from the University of Salamanca (2001)—, has published numerous contributions on a wide variety of topics in various national and international wellknown Law Reviews.

Professor Mónica Herranz Ballesteros, PhD., Associate Professor in the Department of International Private Law discusses the main features of Spanish private international law. Her focus, is from a Spanish perspective is on the regulation of international private relations. Though it remains true that the object of International Private Law has not changed viz. its main aspects, nevertheless a more in depth study of the subject reveals a much more complex reality. This chapter demonstrates how changes in this field are projected both in terms of techniques and sources. The approach taken finds its inspiration in the plural-legislative reality of Spain, and the incremental contribution made by different sources of regulation. The chapter provides an analysis of the impact International private law is having on the Spanish legal system, paying particular attention to the European Regulations applicable to the legal relationships that are the object of this area of legislation.

Professor José Núñez Fernández, PhD., Associate Professor in Criminal Law in UNED, discusses Criminal Law in Spain and attempts to explain some of the fundamental concepts on which the Spanish system of Criminal law is based. To this end, the author highlights the constitutional principles that both inspire and impose boundaries to the State’s punitive power. In addition, an analysis is provided of some specific aspects of criminal behaviour and the consequences arising therefrom. Since Professor Fernández has worked and studied in the UK and United States, this chapter was written in English.

Professor Belen Alonso-Olea García PhD. is Associate Professor of Employment law at the UNED, Social Security Attorney, and a specialist in the field of Social Security law. She has contributed numerous articles on these subjects in Law journals.

Last, but not least, the lasts chapter has been written by Professor Manuel Díaz Martínez, PhD., Professor of Procedural Law (in fact, he obtained his “Professor-

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ship” in 2012, after a long period of accreditation. Professor Martínez is not only a Professor PhD. (Profesor Titular) but also holds the accreditation of Catedrático (Full Professor in Spain). Thus the author has considerable expertise in Spanish legal practice and procedure, and has done a commendable job in managing to succinctly summarise the vast field of Spanish procedural law into a comprehensive summary of less than thirty pages.

Finally, may I express a word of thanks to the authors of this book, without whose invaluable contributions and efforts this book would not have been possible. Projects such as this serve to highlight the academic level of the many university professors who participate, often in an absolutely disinterested manner in international academic projects with the firm conviction that such participation is an absolutely essential component of achieving a complete academic education in an increasingly globalized environment.

My thanks also go to the book’s translator, Martin Kearns, who has worked on some of the aforementioned International Projects at the UNED, always with the utmost efficiency and punctuality.

Finally, my gratitude is extended —along with all the contributing authors— to the publisher Tirant lo Blanch, for the trust placed in us by your offering to publish this work, as well as for your facilities and the expertise you have provided at all times.

For all the reasons mentioned, and although I am all too aware that any book can always be improved, and strictly speaking it is not for me to point out the virtues of the work; but having guided this book through the process of preparation, I would like to express my satisfaction with the result, that fully reflects, as noted above, capacity, effort and dedication of the authors.

Madrid, July 2014 Eva M. Domínguez Pérez (Phd. in Law), Book Coordinator Professor of Commercial law, Law Faculty (UNED) Vicedean of International Relations and Methodology, Law Faculty (UNED)

PRÓLOGO La obra que en estas breves líneas presento constituye el trabajo realizado por un grupo de profesores de Derecho, mayoritariamente de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), en el marco de la VIII Red de Innovación Docente convocada por la UNED (2014-2015). Como el lector puede comprobar, se trata de un Manual introductorio al Derecho español, destinado básicamente a alumnos y especialistas extranjeros que deseen familiarizarse con el ordenamiento jurídico español.

Probablemente que la mejor forma de presentar al lector una obra deba comenzar por exponer, siquiera sea brevemente, cómo surgió la idea de escribirla, puesto que será entonces más fácil comprender su estructura, su contenido y el público al que la obra está orientada. Para ello, debemos remontarnos a uno de los Programas de Movilidad Internacional más conocidos en el marco de la Unión europea, como es el Programa Erasmus, que, como es bien sabido, contribuye a facilitar la movilidad de estudiantes en el marco de la Unión Europea, permitiendo que los estudiantes de los distintos Estados de la Unión puedan cursar algunas asignaturas en otras Universidades de Estados Miembros con los que existan Convenio de Movilidad Erasmus.

No es necesario incidir, por ser sobradamente conocido, sobre la buena acogida que entre los estudiantes universitarios obtuvo desde sus inicios el Programa de Movilidad Erasmus, que junto con otros Programas internacionales de movilidad, han contribuido a que los estudiantes universitarios españoles hayan podido acceder de forma directa al estudio de otro ordenamientos jurídicos, proporcionándoles entonces una perspectiva de Derecho Comparado que indudablemente enriquece su formación jurídica, al margen de la experiencia personal que siempre va unida a la formación académica en el extranjero . El éxito del Programa de movilidad internacional Erasmus —incluso en los últimos tiempos pese a las dificultades económicas que también este Programa ha experimentado—, ha sido el acicate para que desde hace unos años se haya convocado también el Programa de movilidad internacional para Profesores en el marco de la UE. Por otra parte, la Facultad de Derecho de la UNED ha desarrollado en los últimos tiempos una importante trayectoria Internacional —no en vano, desde el Decanato de la Facultad de Derecho se coordinan diversos Programas Internacionales—, avalada por la eficiencia y buen hacer de la Oficina de Internacionalización (Vicerrectorado de Internacionalización), que ofrecen a quienes nos hemos interesado por los Programas Internacionales, una información completa y un asesoramiento técnico de alta calidad.

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Eva M. Domínguez Pérez

En este sentido, desde hace ya algunos años se viene celebrando el Curso de Verano Erasmus (IP), en el marco de un acuerdo de colaboración entre las Universidades alemana Fern UNi, la Universidad Holandesa Open Universität y la Uned, que se celebra durante dos semanas en el mes de junio-julio, con sede rotativa (Alemania, Holanda, España) anual. Al Curso de Verano acuden estudiantes holandeses, alemanes y españoles de últimos cursos del Grado en Derecho, quienes previamente han sido seleccionados por los organizadores del Curso en cada facultad participante. Los alumnos seleccionados —atendiendo a criterios académicos y conocimiento demostrado del idioma en que se desarrolla el Curso (inglés)—, se desplazan durante las dos semanas que dura el Curso de Verano a la sede en que se celebra, teniendo la posibilidad de afianzar sus conocimientos jurídicos (Derecho Penal, Derecho Civil, Derecho Mercantil, Derecho Constitucional, Metodología Jurídica) a la vez que relacionarse con otros estudiantes extranjeros de su entorno de conocimiento, lo que constituye una experiencia académica y personal muy valiosa.

Junto al Curso de Verano, la Facultad de Derecho de la UNED participa en otros Proyectos Internacionales a nivel de Doctorado y Másters, lo que viene a demostrar el convencimiento e interés que los estudiantes y profesores de la UNED demuestran por el entorno internacional en sus especialidades académicas.

Pues bien, en la idea de ofrecer al alumno y profesor extranjero que decide participar en los mencionados Proyectos internacionales una obra jurídica que le proporcione un conocimiento del ordenamiento jurídico español, de forma sintética, clara y concisa, es lo que motivó la gestación de la presenta obra. Se trata de una obra que trae su fundamento en otra de reciente edición (2014) —“An Introductory Course on Spanish Law and Economics”, ed. Tirant lo Blanch, coordinada por el Prof. Pablo de Diego Ángeles, prof. de Economía en la Facultad de Derecho UNED, y que por su condición de Vicedecano de Espacio Europeo en la Facultad de Derecho (UNED), conoce sobradamente los Programas de Movilidad Erasmus y está plenamente familiarizado con el aspecto internacional de la formación académica—, obra en la que participaron todos los autores que participan en la que ahora se presenta.

La obra que ahora se presenta no es simplemente una mera actualización de la mencionada más arriba, sino que constituye una puesta al día y además una ampliación, en cuanto que además de incorporar las necesarias actualizaciones que la actividad legislativa demanda, incorpora también nuevas materias, desarrolladas por profesores de la Facultad de Derecho (UNED); así, se ha incluido en la nueva obra Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social —materia ésta que no estaba presente en la obra anterior—, y Derecho Civil, materia incluida en la obra anterior si bien de forma muy breve, y que por la importancia de ambas se ha decidido abordar en la obra que ahora se presenta con autonomía y mayor extensión. Algunas otras materias que inicialmente iban a ser incluidas en la pre-

Prólogo

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sente obra, no han podido ser finalmente incluidas en ella (pese a que el autor es miembro también del Proyecto de Red de Innovación Docente, Prof. Dra. Mercedes Gómez Adanero, Decana de la Facultad de Derecho), debido a circunstancias de última hora, si bien en futuras ediciones se incluirán dada la relevancia de la materia a tratar.

En todo caso, no se trata de una obra que pretenda abarcar todas las Disciplinas que integran el ordenamiento jurídico español, ni siquiera todos los aspectos de cada Disciplina abordada en la obra (Economía, Derecho Constitucional, Derecho Mercantil, Derecho Civil, Derecho Penal, Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social, Derecho Procesal, y Derecho Internacional Privado), sino tan solo los aspectos que los autores han estimado más relevantes, bien por ser imprescindibles para obtener una visión global de cada materia, bien por resultar novedosos, bien por existir recientes reformas de la normativa de cada Disciplina, o contener referencias a Proyectos normativos que en un breve espacio de tiempo verán la luz, o, en fin, por plantear alguna otra cuestión que los autores han estimado que pueden resultar más interesantes a los lectores a los que va destinada la obra. De esta manera puede afirmarse que no se trata simplemente de una obra expositiva en la que los autores se limitan a exponer los aspectos estimados esenciales de la Disciplina que abordan en cada capítulo, sino que junto a ello, cada Capítulo contiene una elaboración y tratamiento critico personal de cada autor.

Precisamente en la idea de lograr que el lector obtenga una visión global del ordenamiento jurídico español de una forma clara, es por lo que se han evitado las citas a pie de página, mencionándose tan sólo puntualmente a lo largo del Texto algunas referencias doctrinales y jurisprudenciales especialmente relevantes. Se ha preferido por ello ofrecer al lector una referencia bibliográfica al final de cada Capítulo de la obra, en la idea de que esta estructura aligera el texto y contribuye a no desviar la atención del lector del texto principal de la obra.

Es evidente que todo lo expuesto hasta el momento contribuye a que el resultado final sea una obra con un contenido completo y una exposición clara y concisa.

Pero es también evidente que sólo la participación en la obra de especialistas en sus respectivas áreas de conocimiento puede permitir afirmar finalmente que la obra sea interesante y técnicamente correcta. En este sentido, los autores de la obra —que han sido mencionados ya en el Prologo en inglés, así como sus líneas académicas más relevantes—, han abordado sus respectivas aportaciones con rigor y seriedad, ahondando en los planteamientos expuestos, si bien constreñidos por el limitado espacio que necesariamente la elaboración de este tipo de obras (colectivas) exige.

Por ello, finalmente sólo me restan unas palabras de agradecimiento, por supuesto a los autores de la obra, sin cuyas valiosas aportaciones y esfuerzo no hubiera sido posible. Proyectos como el que ahora se presenta ponen de relieve, a

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Eva M. Domínguez Pérez

mi juicio, el nivel académico de muchos de los Profesores universitarios, quienes participan, en muchas ocasiones de forma absolutamente desinteresada, en Proyectos universitarios internacionales en la convicción de que ello es absolutamente imprescindible para lograr finalmente una formación académica completa en un entorno cada vez más globalizado.

Mi agradecimiento igualmente al traductor de la obra, Martin Kearns, quien ha venido colaborando en algunos de los Proyectos Internacionales UNED mencionados anteriormente, y ha trabajado siempre con eficacia y suma puntualidad.

Finalmente, mi agradecimiento —del que participan también todos los autores de la obra—, a la editorial Tirant lo Blanch, por la confianza que ha depositado en nosotros para publicar esta obra, así como por sus facilidades y asesoramiento técnico en todo momento.

Por todos los motivos señalados, y aunque soy consciente de que toda obra es siempre mejorable, y de que estrictamente no me corresponde a mí señalar las virtudes de la obra, sino al lector, quisiera terminar esta breve presentación de la obra que coordino, manifestando mi satisfacción por el resultado obtenido, fruto, como he señalado anteriormente, de la capacidad, esfuerzo y dedicación de los autores.

Madrid, julio 2014 Eva M. Domínguez Pérez (Phd. in Law), Book Coordinator Prof. Titular de Derecho Mercantil, Facultad de Derecho (UNED) Vicedecana de Relaciones Internacionales y Metodología, Facultad de Derecho (UNED)

Chapter 1

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPANISH ECONOMY Nuria González Rabanal

Associate professor in the Department of Economics and Statistics. University of León

Miryam de la Concepción González Rabanal

Associate professor in the Department of Applied Economics and Public Management.

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)

Abstract: This chapter is focused on the analysis of the importance of political and economic history in the functioning of the Spanish Economy.

In order to make a deep study of this topic, the different economic sectors are studied: good and services, agriculture, fishing, livestock, industry, construction, energy, and services (with special reference to tourism).

Keywords: Economic Sectors in Spain; Gross domestic product (GDP): Gross Value Added (GAV): Moncloa Pacts; Stabilization plan; Inferior goods; Exclusive economic zones.

Contents: 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SPANISH ECONOMY. 2. GOOD AND SERVICES: SECTORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. 2.1. Primary industry: agriculture. 2.1.1. Recent Developments. 2.1.2. A descriptive economic analysis of the agricultural subsector. 2.1.3. An economic analysis of the livestock subsector. 2.1.4. The situation in the fishing subsector. 2.2. The secondary sector: industry. 2.2.1.

The recent development of Spanish industry. 2.2.2. The construction subsector. 2.2.3. The energy subsector. 2.3. The third sector: services. 2.3.1. The service sector in Spain. 2.3.2. The tourism subsector.

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SPANISH ECONOMY In order to understand the current climate of a country’s economy, it is essential to be aware of its political and economic past. In the case of Spain, looking back over recent economic events allows us to understand the reasons for Spain’s current economic situation. Thus, it is always essential to provide a contemporary historical reference when attempting to come to terms with all sectors of the Spanish economy.

In general, the end of the Spanish Civil War is a good starting point for a historical and economic review, as it provides two important sets of circumstances: • Firstly, the late thirties and early forties saw changes of great importance in the international scene. The outbreak of World War II determined the

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Nuria González Rabanal - Miryam de la Concepción González Rabanal

European economic model, and Spain was not isolated from these changes.

Indeed the fall in industrial production and specialization in the arms industry affected a Spain still in the process of rebuilding itself both politically and economically.

• Secondly, the end of the Spanish Civil War saw the imposition of a military dictator lead by General Francisco Franco that championed a political and economic structure based on domestic production, self-reliance, and economic independence while at the same time blocking imports.

For forty years, the dictatorship, in its various phases, put its stamp on a Spain isolated from Europe with a production model far remote from its optimal potential. The model was characterized by producing low quality products, plagued by an inferior technological level in its means of production, and which possessed of less in regards to an international outlook.

Though this phase of the dictatorship had also witnessed an opening up to the international market with the Stabilization Plan of 1959, only with the passing of the dictator, the stage was finally set for a process of transition to democracy.

The return of democracy saw Juan Carlos I crowned as King of Spain and the passing of the current Spanish Constitution of 1978. This undoubtedly turbulent period at all levels saw unprecedented economic, political and institutional upheavals that eventually culminated in the so-called “Moncloa Pacts”. Beyond doubt these agreements represented a consensus between all the competing social and political forces of the time to lay the ground work for change from a closed economy to an open one based on democratic principle sand market forces.

The transition phase was followed by successive democratic governments, whose respective ideologies have influenced the economic policy model followed since that period. However, it must be borne in mind that the democratic era experienced a major boost at the economic level from Spain’s entry into the EU. This membership allowed access to the European market and saw Spain benefit from European funding in important sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, energy, and industry, among others. The significance of the change brought about by Spanish membership of the EU has been evident in all economic sectors.

2. GOOD AND SERVICES: SECTORS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY The circular flow of income theory allows us to see how relationships are established between economic factors and real and financial currents in the economy.

These economic currents give rise to markets for goods and services. Therefore it is desirable, in order to appreciate the characteristics of each sector, to review and group activities based on their common characteristics. The most common clas-