introduction to belgian law - gbv · xii introduction to belgian law b. heirs entitled to the...

Introduction to Belgian Law

Edited by

Hubert Bockenand

Walter De Bondt

2001

BRUYLANTBRUXELLES

KLUWER LAW INTERNATIONALTHE HAGUE - LONDON - BOSTON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biographical notes xxiiiSummary of Contents xxix

1. The Belgian Legal Tradition: Does it Exist? 1Dirk Heirbaut

1. A Belgian legal tradition before Belgian independence in 1830? 1A. Belgian political history before 1830 1B. The legal history of the Southern Netherlands before 1830 3

1. The Middle Ages (till the endof the fifteenth Century) 32. The Early Modern period 43. The French period 74. The Dutch period 8

II. A Belgian legal tradition after Belgian independence in 1830? 9A. The Belgian revolution 9B. The constitution 9C. French influence in the nineteenth Century 10D. The waning of French influence 13

1. Changes in legal education and legal science 132. Social and economic changes 143. The rise of Dutch as a language for law 15

E. A French-speaking and a Flemish Belgian legal culture? 16

III. The pragmatic attitude of Belgian law 19

FV. Belgium's contribution to law 20

V. Conclusion 21

Selected bibliography 21

2. Basic Features of the Legal System 23Mark van Hoecke and Michiel Eist

I. 'Belgian legal culture(s)' 23A. Epistemological presuppositions: The sources of law 25

vi Introduction to Belgian Law

B. Methodological presuppositions 271. Statutory interpretation 272. Argumentation theory 28

C. Ideological presuppositions 301. Theory of the State: The task of the judge 302. World view of the Belgian judge 31

II. Recognised sources of law 33A. Internal sources of law 33

1. Legislation 332. Case law 353. Customary law and general principles of law 354. Legal doctrine 36

B. Influence of European and international law 361. The supremacy of international law 362. Human rights treaties 373. European law 384. International law versus the Constitution 39

ID. Finding the law 40A. Bibliographical works 40B. Where to find legislation? 41C. Where to find case law? 42D. Where to find legal doctrinal writings? 43

IV. Branches of law 44

V. Legal education and legal professions 45A. Legal education 45B. Legal professions 46

1. Advocates 462. Notaries 473. Judges and public prosecutors 47


3. Constitutional Law 49

Francis Delperee

I. The Constitution 49

II. History 49

III. Sources 50

Table of Contents vii

IV. Influences 51

V. Interpretation 52

VI. The revision procedure 54

VII. The first constitutional revisions 55

VIII. More recent constitutional revisions 56

IX. Basic constitutional data 57A. Rights and freedoms 57B. Separation of powers 58C. The imperfect two-chamber System 59D. The establishment of a federal system 59E. Political decentralisation 61

X. The Constitution and the European integration 62

XI. Reorientation of the Constitution 62

XII. Constitutional justice 63

XIII. Revisions to come 64


4. Administrative Law 67Robert Anderson

I. Introduction 67

II. The administrative Organisation 68

III. Administrative action 72A. The regime of administrative acts 72B. The Situation of civil servants and other public employees 76C. The Situation with regard to public property 78

IV. The controls 79

V. Conclusion 81


5. The Judicial System and Procedure 83Jean Laenens and George Van Mellaert

I. General introduction 83

viii Introduction to Belgian Law

II. Structure of the Judiciary 84A.Courts 84

1. The justice of the peace court 842. The police court 843. The court of first instance 854. The labour tribunal — 855. The commercial court 866. The district court 867. The court of appeal 868. The labour court of appeal 879. The cour d'assise 8810. Military court 8811. The supreme court 8812. The constitutional court 8913. The Council of State 89

B. Participants in the judicial process 90l.Judges 902. Lawyers 913. Bailiffs 924. Court clerks 92

HI. Civil procedure 93A. Legal aid 93

1. Introduction 932. Application 93

B. Language 93C. Competence and jurisdiction 94

1. Intemal jurisdiction 942. International jurisdiction 98

D. Proceedings 981. Initiation of proceedings 982. Handling of the case 993. Proof and evidence 102

E. Appeal Systems '. 1031. General 1032. Ordinary measures of appeal 1043. Extraordinary measures of appeal 106

F. Enforcement of judgments 1071. General 1072. Civil fine 1083. Attachment 109

Table of Contents ix

4. Execution 1095. Execution of foreign judgments 109

G. Special procedures 1101. Unilateral petition (exparte procedure) 1102. Bilateral petition 1103. Procedure before the president of the court 110

IV.Arbitration 111

V. Administrative procedures 113A. General 113B. Which Acts can be annulled? 114

l.Types 1142. The act must be issued by an administrative authority 1153. Absence of other recourses 115

C. Grounds for nullification 115l.Violationofform 1152. Excess of power 1153. Abuse of power or ulterior motive 116

D. Procedure 117I.General 1172. Procedure until judgment 118

E. Effect of the Council's decisions 1201. Rejection of aclaim 1202. Nullification 120

F. Special procedures 1211. Suspension of an act 121

VI. Criminal procedure 122A.General 122B. Civil claim before the criminal courts 123

1. Initiation of the proceedings 1232. Conditions 124

C. Civil claim before the civil courts 1251. General 1252. Relation between criminal and civil procedures 125

D. Foreclosure of the claim for damages 1261. Relinquishment 1262. Limitation periods 126


x Introduction to Belgian Law

6. Family Law 128Patrick Senaeve

I. General description of family law 128A. The Legislation 128B. Treaty Law 131C. Case law 131

II. Affiliation 132A.General 132

1. Short history of affiliation law 1322. Affiliation and human rights 133

B. Maternal affiliation 1341. The birth certificate 1342. The recognition 1363. The investigation of maternity 137

C. Paternal affiliation 1381. Paternal affiliation within marriage 1382. Paternal affiliation out of wedlock 141

D. Rules common to all affiliation actions 1411. Orders for investigatory measures 1472. The effect of judgment in affiliation disputes 147

E. Action for support against the procreator 147

III. Parental authority and the right of audience of juveniles 1491. Introduction 1492. Cohabiting parents 1503. Non-cohabiting parents 153

IV.Divorce 159A. Introduction 159

1. Historical evolution 1592. Primary characteristics of the divorce law 160

B. Divorce on the grounds of fault 1611. Grounds for divorce 1612. Procedural law 1663. Temporary measures (Art. 1280 CJ) 1674. Consequences of divorce 168

C. Divorce on the grounds of actual Separation 1711. Requirements (Art. 232) 1712. Procedural law 1713. Temporary measures 1714. Consequences of the divorce 171

Table of Contents xi

D. Divorce by mutual consent 1731. Requirements 1732. Procedural law 1743. Consequences 174

V. Statutory cohabitation 175A. Introduction 175B. The legal position of cohabitees before and outside the Statutory

Cohabitation Act 1751. Lawfulness of cohabitation 1752. Cohabitation contracts 1763. Registration with the municipality 177

C. The Statutory Cohabitation Act 1771. Scope of the Statutory Cohabitation Act 1772. Formal requirements 1783. Requirements 1784. Exclusion of the statutory scheme 1785. Obligation to share costs of cohabitation 1786. Responsibility for debts 1797. Property relationship 1798. Special regime regarding the family home 1799. Inheritance 18010. Adjudication of disputes arising between cohabitees 180ll.Terminationof the statutory cohabitation 18012. Maintenance 181


7. Successions, Donations lnter Vivos and Wills 183

Christian De Wulf

Introduction 183

I. Successions 183A.General 183

1. Statutory and testamentary devolution 1832. When? 1843. Goods constituting the succession 1844. Requirements for entitlement to inherit 1865. The place where the succession devolves 1866. The prohibition to enter into agreements on a successionwhich has not yet devolved 187

xii Introduction to Belgian Law

B. Heirs entitled to the succession 1871. The relatives 1872. The surviving spouse 1903. The law of succession in the context of an adoption 1904. The right of legal reversion 1915. The law of succession of the Belgian State 192

C. Acceptance and renunciation of succession 1921. The pure and simple acceptance 1922. Renunciation 1933. Acceptance under benefit of inventory 194

D. Settlement and partition 1951. The right to request partition 1952. The methods of partition 1953. The hotchpotch {collatio bonorum) 1974. Action in rescission of partition 197

n. Gifts and wills 197A. The legal portion that must devolve upon the heirs and the

freely disposable portion of the estate 1971. General 1972. The heirs and the size of the statutory reserved portion 198

B. The donations inter vivos 199l.Form 1992. Content 200

C. The wills 200l.Form 2002. Content 2003. Revocability 201

D. Special kinds of gifts 201


8. Property Law 204Helene Casman

I. Introduction and sources of law 204

n. General 205A. Things andrights 205B. Real rights 205C. Real rights of use 206D. Specific conditions for disclosure 206

Table of Contents xiii

III. Movables and immovables 207

IV. Property 208A.Definition 208B. Protection of property 209C. Acquisition of property 209

1. Derivative acquisition 2092. Original acquisition 2113. Possession 2114. Prescription 2115. Title throughout possession 212

V. Co-ownersbip and apartment property 213A. Co-ownership 213B. Condominium 215

VI. Real rights of use 216A. Usufruct 216B. Emphyteusis 217C. Superficies 218D. Easements 218E. Duties towards neighbours 219

Bibliography 221

9. Contracts 222

Walter De Bondt

I. Sources 222

II. Freedom of contract 223

III. The foundation of contractual obligations: will and

reasonable expectations 224

IV. The formation of the contract 227

V. The validity of the contract 228A. Consent 228

l.Mistake 2282. Fraud and duress 228

B. Capacity 229C. Cause and object 229VI. Culpa in contrahendo 230

xiv Introduction to Belgian Law

VII. Interpretation and evidence 231

Vni. Performance 233A. The complementary function of good faith 234B. The corrective function of good faith 234

IX. Breach of contract and remedies 236A. Breach of contract 236B. Remedies 237

1. Mise en demeure 2372. Specific Performance 2373. Damages 2384. Exceptio non adimpleti contractus 2395. Resolution with damages 239

C. Contractual provisions concerning breach and remedies 2401. Resolutory condition 2402. Penalty clauses 2403. Exemption clauses 241

X. Contracts and third parties 241


10. Tort Law 244

Hubert Bocken

I. Introduction 244

n. Tort and contract 245

HL The basis for liability 247A. Fault liability 248

1. Fault 2482. Imputability 2553. Presumptions of fault and causation 256

B. Strict liability 2571. Liability for one's own non negligent act 2582. Risk liability 259

IV. Causation 264A. The doctrine of equivalence of conditions 274B. Plurality of liable parties 267

V.Damage 267A. Damage 267

Table of Contents xv

B. Compensation 269

VI. Industrial accidents and traffic accidenLs 270A. Industrial accidents 270B. Traffic accidents 271


11. Commercial Law and Business Transactions 274Eddy Wymeersch

I. Commercial law 274A. The role of commercial law in the Belgian legal System 274B. Defining commercial law 275C. Relationship to civil law 275D. Rules of commercial law - overview 276

1. Disclosures 2762. Rules of evidence 2763. Joint liability for commercial liabilities 2774. Rules on bankruptcy 2775. Jurisdiction of commercial tribunals 2776. Other subject matters 277

II. The main rules of Belgian commercial law 278A. Bills of exchange, promissory notes and cheques 278

1. Bills of exchange 2782. Cheques 279

B. Commercial tribunals 281C. Bankruptcy and reorganisational procedures 281

1. Urgent protective measures 2822. Bankruptcy 2823. Reorganisation 284

III. Rules relating to commercial and financial transactions 285A. Commerce 285

1. Commission Agents 2852. Exclusive distributorship 286

B. Financial Services 287l.Credit contracts 2882. Banking contracts 2913. Investment Services 291


xvi Introduction to Belgian Law

12. Corporations and Partnerships 297Koen Geens

I. General overview of Belgian corporations and partnerships 297A. Overview 297B. Civil and commercial partnerships and corporations 298C. Partnerships without legal personality 299D. Personal and capital companies and partnerships 300E. Private limited liability Company 301F. Partnerships with a reduced legal personality 302G. Mixed partnerships 304

1. The limited partnership by shares (CVA) 3042. The co-operative partnership (CoopVenn) 305

H. The public Company limited by shares (NV/SA) 305A. Formation of the NV/SA: intrinsic validity requirements 305B. Formation of the NV/SA: formal validity requirements 307C. Capital and shares 308

1. Capital concepts 3082. Capital divided into shares 3103. Increase of capital 3104. Capital increase and the equal treatment of shareholders 3115. Decrease of capital 3126. Acquisition by the Company of its own shares 3137. Cross-participation 3148. Rights Conferred by Shares and Other Securities 3159. Form of securities 317

D. Organisation (shareholders, management and control) 3201. The general meeting of shareholders 3212. The board of directors - the daily management 3253. Powers of management and the decision-making process 3264. Conflicts of Interest within the Board of Directors 3275. Independent directors 3286. The powers of representation of directors 3297. Liability of Directors 3308. Auditor 332

E. Dissolution and winding up 3351. Grounds for dissolution 3352. Liquidation 336

HI. Mergers and divisions 338A. Merger through acquisition 339

Table of Contents xvii

B. The concentration of all shares in one hand 340C. Merger by creation of anew Company 341D. Divisions 341E. Contribution of a branch or universality 342

IV. Holdings and subsidiaries 343

V. Subsidiaries and branches of foreign companies 344


13. Taxation 346Andre Spruyt

I. Introduction 346A. The Belgian State structure and the tax System 346

1. Constitutional tax powers 3462. Special legislation 347

B. General principles of tax law laid down in the Constitution 3481. The legality principle 3482. The annuality principle 3493. The equality principle 349

II. Income taxes 350A. The Individual Income Tax 350

1. Tax liability 3502. Real property income 3503. Personal property income 3514. Occupational income 3515. Miscellaneous income 3526. Tax rates 3537. Taxation of families 356

B. The Corporate Income Tax 3571. Tax liability 3572. Taxable income 3573. Tax rates 3584. Special tax regimes 358

C. Other income taxes 3591. The Legal Entities Income Tax 3592. The Non-resident Income Tax 359

D. Double Taxation 360

HI. Indirect Taxation 361

xviii Introduction to Belgian Law

A. Value added tax 361B. Inheritance Tax 361C. Registration duties 363


14. Labour and Social Law 365Willy Van Eeckhoutte

Introduction 365

I. Labour law 365A. Labour contracts law 365

1. Understanding, form and proof 3652. Types of labour contracts 3663. Terms of the labour contract 3674. Liability 3685. Suspension of the execution of the labour contract 3686. Termination of the labour contract 369

B. Employment protection law 3791. Working time regulation 3792. Night work 3803. Sunday rest 3804. Public holidays 3805. Annual vacation 3806. Weifare at work 3817. Equal opportunities 3828. Protection of young people and women 382

C. Remuneration 3831. The concept of remuneration and the right to remuneration 3832. Wages 3833. Protection of remuneration 384

D. Collective labour law 3851. Collective negotiation 3852. Collective employment agreements 3863. Industrial conflicts 3884. Rules of work 389

E. Employment policy law 3901. Stimulation of employment 3902. Recruitment, interviewing and selection 3903. Employment mediation 3904. Temporary employment and consignment of employees 391

Table of Contents xix

5. Outplacement 3916. Foreign workers 392

II. Social security law 393A.General 393B. Social security provisions 393

l.Sectors 3932. Structural aspects 396

C. Social assistance 399

III. The right to maintenance 399


15. Criminal Law 401

Alain De Nauw and Jo'elle Rozie

The Belgian Penal Code 401

I. The criminal law 402A. The principle of legality 402B. The application of the criminal law ratione temporis 402C. The application of the criminal law ratione loci 403D. The application of the criminal law ratione personae 403H. The offence 404A. The elements of the offence 404

1. The material element 4042. The moral element 404

B. The classification of offences 4051. The legal tripartite classification 4052. Other classifications 406

C. Aggravating circumstances 407D. The punishable attempt 408

1. The intent to commit a felony or a misdemeanour 4082. Beginning of execution 4083. Non-completion of the offence, without the offender's consent 408

E. The justification grounds ; 4091. General notions 4092. The different justification grounds 409

HI. The offender 410A. The grounds of exemption of guilt 410

1. General principles 410

xx Introduction to Belgian Law

2. The different grounds of exemption of guilt 410B. The grounds of irresponsibility 411

1. General notions 4112. The different grounds of irresponsibility 412

C. The absolute grounds of excuse 413D. Punishable participation 413

1. General concepts 4132. The legal ways of participation 414

E. The legal persons 414

IV. Punishments and other consequences of the offence 414A. General principles 414B. The different punishments 415

1. The principal punishments 4152. The additional punishments 416

C. Determination of punishment 416D. Execution of punishment 417

1. General principles 4172. Modalities of execution 417

E. The extinction of punishment 418


16. Private International Law 420Johan Erauw

I. Introduction........................ 420A. Scope 420B. Codification on its way (caveat) 421C. Historical developments 422D. Methodology 424

n. Sources 426A. Law and Treaties 426B. Doctrinal writings 426

HL Jurisdiction and procedural matters 427A. The European Conventions 427B. European Community Regulations and bilateral Conventions 429C. National law principles 429

1. General rules on international jurisdiction 4292. Jurisdiction for divorce proceedings 4303. Jurisdiction regarding international estates 430

Table of Contents xxi

4. Jurisdiction for specific contracts 430D. Upcoming changes and novelties through codification 430E. Lis alibi pendens and related proceedings 431F. Service of process abroad 431G. Obtaining of evidence abroad and rules regarding proof 432

FV. International commercial arbitration 432A. Liberalism and treaty obligations 432B. Basic tenets of arbitration and absence of distinction

'national' v. 'international' 434C. The law applicable to the procedure 435D. The law applicable to the merits of the dispute and to arbitrability 437E. Intervention of rules of public policy and mandatory law 439F. Action for annulment or setting aside 441G. Recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitration awards 442

V. Choice of law or applicable law 444A. Personal Status and capacity in general and nationality law 444

1. The national law of persons and conflicts of nationality 4442. Belgian nationality law 445

B. Persons and family 446l.Name 4462. Capacity and guardianship of children 4473. Marriage 4474. Matrimonial property regime of spouses 4485. Divorce 4496. Legitimacy, legitimation and adoption 449

C. Successions and wills 4511. Successions 4512. Wills 451

D. Trusts 452E. Property 452F. Contractual obligations 453

1. The European Contractual Conflicts Convention (Rome Convention) 4532. Säle of goods 4543. Specific contracts 455

G.Torts 4581. Applicable law in general 4582. Traffic accidents 459

H. Corporations 459I. Insolvency 460

xxii Introduction to Belgian Law

VI. Recognition of foreign documents and foreign judicial decisions 460A. Treaty obligations 460B. National law 461


introduction to belgian law - gbv · xii introduction to belgian law b. heirs entitled to the...

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