La OMC y la jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas
Author | Paolo Mengozzi |
-
LA CONSTITUCIONALIDAD DE LA MEMBRESÍA DE LA COMUNIDAD EUROPEA EN LA OMC
Un análisis de la relevancia atribuida a las reglas de la OMC por la jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas debe necesariamente comenzar por la mención de las características peculiares de dichas reglas en referencia a otros acuerdos y, particularmente, en relación con las antiguas reglas del GATT 1947. La mayor novedad está constituida por el hecho de que las reglas de la OMC son más precisas y su aplicación e implementación está asistida por la operatividad de un sistema de solución de diferencias.
Las características mencionadas conducen a una pregunta lógicamente prioritaria: la cuestión acerca de la posibilidad constitucional para la Comunidad de ser parte en los Acuerdos OMC. El Tribunal de Justicia ha establecido en dos dictámenes (1/76 y 1/91) que la conclusión por parte de Comunidad de acuerdos que prevean un mecanismo de solución de diferencias del tipo considerado en esos dictámenes era incompatible con los principios constitucionales de la Comunidad Europea.
Lo que interesa aquí, en primer lugar, es que la posición adoptada por el Tribunal de Justicia en esos dictámenes estuvo determinada por el contenido particular de los acuerdos en cuestión. En el primer caso, el acuerdo -inter aliaconducía a una renuncia de los poderes de la Comunidad en materias de política de transporte, alterando seriamente el equilibrio de poderes de la Comunidad Europea. En el segundo caso, el acuerdo creaba un tribunal llamado a aplicar normas cuyo contenido era idéntico a una gran parte del Derecho comunitario: el funcionamiento de dicho tribunal podía generar el riesgo de socavar el principio de aplicación uniforme del Derecho comunitario.
En segundo lugar, aún más relevante, es preciso subrayar que el Tribunal en su dictamen 1/91 hizo una importante declaración de principios. Declaró que 'un acuerdo internacional que prevé [un] sistema jurisdiccional es, en principio, compatible con el Derecho comunitario. La competencia de la Comunidad en materia de relaciones internacionales y su capacidad para celebrar acuerdos internacionales implica, necesariamente, la facultad de someterse a las resoluciones de un órgano jurisdiccional creado o designado en virtud de tales acuerdos, por lo que a la interpretación y a la aplicación de sus disposiciones se refiere' (párrafo 40).
Las palabras del Tribunal de Justicia en los dictámenes 1/76 y 1/91 hacen referencia a un 'sistema de tribunales' previsto por un acuerdo internacional concluido por la Comunidad. El mecanismo de solución de diferencias de la OMC es habitualmente calificado como un sistema cuasi judicial. En el asunto C-89/96, Portugal c. Comisión, de 23 de noviembre de 1999, el Tribunal de Justicia no siguió la conclusión del Abogado General Saggio, que lo calificó como 'un sistema de conciliación de sujetos de derecho internacional'. Aun cuando constituye un sistema de solución de diferencias a través de terceros está generalmente aceptado que su funcionamiento no produce el tipo de efectos declarados inaceptables por el Tribunal de Justicia en los dictámenes 1/76 y 1/91.
El sistema de solución de diferencias de la OMC ha sido considerado compatible con los principios constitucionales de la Comunidad Europea hasta el punto de que en el mencionado asunto C-89/96, en el contexto del recurso de anulación de una decisión relativa a la conclusión de dos acuerdos internacionales basado en la pretendida incompatibilidad de dichos acuerdos con las normas de la OMC, el Consejo sostuvo que los Acuerdos OMC establecen un sistema de solución de diferencias autónomo, privando a la jurisdicción del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas de la facultad de interpretar y aplicar las normas de esos Acuerdos.
En el asunto C-89/96 el Tribunal, aun cuando inequívocamente aceptó que la Comunidad podía ser parte en un sistema convencional que establezca un mecanismo de solución de diferencias, no aceptó la posición adoptada por el Consejo. Por consiguiente contamos con dos sistemas funcionando paralelamente, el sistema de la OMC y el del Tribunal de Justicia. El último puede ser requerido para interpretar y aplicar las reglas de la OMC a problemas como la aplicabilidad directa, aun cuando el primer sistema cuenta con una jurisdicción obligatoria para resolver controversias entre sus miembros. Esto no significa que al ejercer su jurisdicción el Tribunal deba abstenerse de considerar la existencia y el funcionamiento del otro sistema.
-
EL PROBLEMA DE LA APLICABILIDAD DIRECTA DE LOS ACUERDOS MULTILATERALES DE LA OMC Y SU NOVEDAD CON REFERENCIA A LAS REGLAS DEL GATT 1947
En relación con el problema específico de la aplicabilidad directa que puede ser reconocida a los acuerdos OMC por los jueces comunitarios -tanto los del Tribunal de Justicia como aquellos de los países miembros de la UE-, debe decirse que el funcionamiento del sistema de solución de diferencias de la OMC junto al carácter más preciso de las normas de los acuerdos multilaterales sobre las que ejerce una jurisdicción obligatoria convierte al problema en uno diferente del que se presentaba con las reglas...
To continue reading
Request your trial- Books and Journals
- La Organización Mundial del Comercio y el regionalismo europeo
- Multilitarismo y regionalismo en el comercio internacional: algo más que comercio. El caso de América Latina
- Integración y regionalismo. Reflexiones desde un punto de vista económico
- Derecho OMC y Derechos internos: Una relación difícil
- La OMC y la jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas
- La participación de la Comunidad Europea y los Estados miembros en la OMC
- El papel de la Unión Europea en la solución de las diferencias comerciales en la OMC
- La falta de eficacia directa de los acuerdos OMC en la Unión Europea
- La Unión Europea y el acuerdo ADPIC: algunos comentarios
- Los derechos nacionales y el Derecho comunitario europeo de propiedad industrial ante el acuerdo ADPIC (competencia legislativa vs. princio de libre circulación de mercaderias)
- Aspectos jurídicos del comercio de servicios en una economia globalizada
- La liberalización del comercio de servicios en la Unión Europea: ¿un modelo de referencia para el Gasts?
- La regulación de la competencia en la Unión Europea: ¿lecciones para la OMC?
- Competencia y comercio: el marco general
- Posibles modelos para la regulación de la competencia en la OMC
Subscribers can access the reported version of this case.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see a list of all the cited cases and legislation of a document.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see a list of all the documents that have cited the case.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see the revised versions of legislation with amendments.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see any amendments made to the case.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see a visualisation of a case and its relationships to other cases. An alternative to lists of cases, the Precedent Map makes it easier to establish which ones may be of most relevance to your research and prioritise further reading. You also get a useful overview of how the case was received.

Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.
Subscribers are able to see the list of results connected to your document through the topics and citations Vincent found.
You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.
Why Sign-up to vLex?
-
Trusted Globally
Our platform serves over 2 million legal professionals worldwide, including eight of the top ten global law firms. Leading corporations, government organisations, and law schools rely on vLex for their legal research needs.
-
Comprehensive Global Legal Content
Access an extensive collection of legal documents spanning more than 200 jurisdictions. Our content covers everything from case law and legislation to regulations and commentary, continuously updated by our global team of legal experts.
-
AI-Powered Research with Vincent AI
Uses cutting-edge AI to streamline legal research, analyze case law, and review documents, helping you extract key insights and work more efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most.
-
Enhanced Efficiency
Work across borders with instant translations in 14 languages. Track citations with advanced technology, analyse documents efficiently, and customise your research workflow to match your practice needs
-
Accurate Citation with Cert
Cert combines advanced technology and expert editorial review to track case history, analyze treatments, and assess a case's precedential strength. Gain comprehensive insight to streamline your legal research and ensure you stay ahead with reliable case law analysis.
-
Find What You Need, Quickly
Vincent AI transforms legal research by understanding your questions in natural language and delivering precise answers with verified citations. Handle complex research tasks across multiple jurisdictions and automate routine legal work with confidence.
-
Over 2 million registered users
Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.