Restitution and European Community Law

by Jones; Alison

• ISBN13: 9781859785188
• ISBN10: 1859785182
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2000-12-01
• Publisher: Informa Law fro

Table of Contents

Dedication	v
Series Editor's Foreword	vii
Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Outline table of contents	xv
Table of cases	xxv
Table of UK Statutes and Statutory Instruments	xxxvii
Table of Treaties, European Legislative Instruments and Other National Legislation	xxxix
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION	1	(20)
1. European Community law-a new legal order of international law	1	(5)
(1) The sources of Community law	1	(3)
a. The treaties	1	(1)
b. Community acts	2	(1)
c. The case law of the European Court	3	(1)
d. The general principles of Community law	4	(1)
(2) A new legal order	4	(2)
a. Direct effect	4	(1)
b. Supremacy	5	(1)
c. Article 234 (ex-Article 177) of the EC Treaty	6	(1)
2. The duties of national courts under Community law-national procedural autonomy and the principles of equivalence and effectiveness	6	(8)
(1) The obligation to protect Community rights	6	(1)
(2) The principle of national procedural autonomy	7	(1)
(3) The principles of equivalence and effectiveness	8	(1)
(4) A right to an effective remedy	8	(1)
(5) A right to a specific remedy	9	(1)
(6) No new remedies?	10	(3)
(7) Effective remedies and defences	13	(1)
3. The principle of national procedural autonomy and restitutionary claims before the English courts	14	(4)
(1) A breach of directly effective Community law	14	(1)
(2) The principle of national procedural autonomy	14	(1)
(3) A right to a specific remedy	14	(1)
(4) No new remedies?	15	(2)
(5) Supremacy	17	(1)
(6) Rules limiting or barring the right of recovery	17	(1)
4. Conclusions	18	(3)
CHAPTER 2 CHARGES WRONGLY LEVIED BY A PUBLIC AUTHORITY-AN OUTLINE OF ENGLISH LAW	21	(34)
1. A right to restitution	21	(10)
(1) Introduction	21	(1)
(2) Grounds of recovery	21	(7)
a. Statutory scheme	23	(1)
b. Mistake of law	23	(2)
c. Payments made pursuant to an ultra vires demand by a public authority	25	(3)
d. Other grounds of recovery	28	(1)
(3) The need for judicial review proceedings: RSC Order 53	28	(2)
(4) Refusal to pay a wrongly demanded levy	30	(1)
2. Interest	31	(4)
(1) Statutory schemes	31	(1)
(2) A common law right to recover	31	(4)
3. Defences	35	(20)
(1) Legislative remedies-a statutory prohibition	36	(1)
(2) Limitation periods	37	(2)
a. RSC Order 53	37	(1)
b. The ordinary limitation periods	37	(2)
c. Limitation of period in respect of which restitution can be claimed	39	(1)
(3) The problem of disruption to public finance-change in a settled view of the law	39	(6)
a. Was the payer mistaken at all?	41	(2)
b. Should a "settled understanding of the law" defence be recognised?	43	(1)
c. Settled understanding of the law and payment of taxes	44	(1)
(4) Change of position	45	(2)
(5) Estoppel	47	(1)
(6) Submission to honest claims and compromises	48	(1)
(7) Passing on	48	(5)
(8) Set-off	53	(1)
(9) Counter-restitution impossible	54	(1)
CHAPTER 3 CHARGES LEVIED IN BREACH OF COMMUNITY LAW-THE REQUIREMENTS OF COMMUNITY LAW	55	(40)
1. The collection of national charges which are contrary to Community law	55	(9)
(1) Introduction	55	(1)
(2) A right to restitution	56	(2)
(3) Rationale for the decisions	58	(3)
a. The principles of effectiveness	58	(1)
b. The principle of unjust enrichment?	59	(2)
c. Conclusions	61	(1)
(4) Rights against non-State entities	61	(2)
(5) Refusal to pay a levy demanded in contravention of Community law	63	(1)
(6) The need for proceedings before the Court of Justice	63	(1)
2. Charges improperly collected by a national authority on behalf of the Community under a Community measure	64	(3)
(1) Introduction	64	(1)
(2) A right to restitution	64	(1)
(3) Rationale for the decisions	65	(1)
(4) Refusal to pay a levy demanded in contravention of Community law	65	(1)
(5) The need for a reference to, or judicial review proceedings before, the Court of Justice	65	(2)
3. Restitution required by a Community act	67	(2)
(1) Community regulation	67	(1)
(2) Directive	68	(1)
4. Right to interest	69	(7)
(1) The case law	69	(2)
(2) Full restitution-an award of interest?	71	(2)
(3) The rate of interest	73	(2)
(4) Regulation 2913/92	75	(1)
(5) Damages	75	(1)
5. Defences to restitutionary claims	76	(18)
(1) Statutory provisions prohibiting recovery	76	(1)
(2) Limitation periods	77	(7)
a. Short limitation periods	77	(4)
b. Limitation of period in respect of which restitution can be claimed	81	(1)
c. Limitation periods and directives	81	(2)
d. Limitation periods and misinformation	83	(1)
(3) Techniques to prevent disruption to public funds	84	(3)
(4) Unjust enrichment of the claimant-passing on	87	(5)
(5) Unjust enrichment of the claimant-right of set-off	92	(1)
(6) Counter-restitution	93	(1)
(7) Charges wrongly levied over a long period of time	94	(1)
(8) Other defences	94	(1)
6. Conclusions	94	(1)
CHAPTER 4 CHARGES LEVIED IN BREACH OF COMMUNITY LAW-THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY LAW ON THE ENGLISH RULES	95	(26)
1. A right to restitution	95	(13)
(1) Right to restitution required by Community law	95	(1)
(2) A right to recover-a new action for money had and received?	95	(1)
(3) Grounds of recovery-a statutory entitlement	96	(1)
(4) Grounds of recovery--common law grounds	96	(11)
a. A charge levied on the registration of a company under primary legislation which is in breach of Community law	97	(6)
i. Introduction	97	(1)
ii. The breadth of the Woolwich principle	98	(2)
iii. Will the Woolwich principle enable recovery of charges levied on a company under primary, legislation which is contrary to Community law?	100	(3)
b. A compulsory charge levied, contrary to Article 28 of the EC Treaty, under secondary legislation by the Apple and Pear Council, a body set up under statutory instrument	103	(1)
c. Monetary compensation amounts collected by a national collecting agency under an invalid Community regulation	104	(1)
d. Monetary compensation amounts collected by a national collecting agency on account of its misconstruction of a Community regulation	104	(1)
e. Enrollment fees demanded by a private educational college from French students in breach of Article 12 of the EC Treaty	105	(2)
f. Conclusions	107	(1)
(5) The need for judicial review proceedings	107	(1)
a. RSC Order 53	107	(1)
b. Proceedings before the Court of Justice	108	(1)
(6) Refusal to pay levies demanded in contravention of Community law	108	(1)
2. Interest	108	(1)
3. Defences	109	(12)
(1) Statutory intervention	110	(1)
(2) Limitation periods	110	(2)
a. Short limitation periods	110	(1)
b. Ordinary limitation periods	111	(1)
c. Limitation of period in respect of which restitution can be claimed	111	(1)
(3) Disruption to public funds--change in understanding of the law	112	(1)
(4) Change of position	113	(1)
(5) Estoppel	114	(1)
(6) Submission to honest claims and compromises	115	(1)
(7) Passing on	115	(3)
(8) Set-off	118	(1)
(9) Counter-restitution impossible	118	(3)
CHAPTER 5 SUMS WRONGLY PAID OUT BY A PUBLIC AUTHORITY	121	(28)
1. English law	121	(7)
A. A right to restitution	121	(4)
(1) Introduction	121	(1)
(2) Recovery of sums paid out by a public authority without legal authority	121	(4)
a. Statutory schemes	121	(1)
b. Mistake of law	122	(1)
c. The Auckland Harbour principle	122	(1)
i. Illegal and ultra vires payments-a need for a mistake?	123	(1)
ii. Payment out of the consolidated fund	123	(1)
iii. A proprietary remedy?	124	(1)
iv. Payments made contrary to Community law	124	(1)
B. Interest	125	(1)
C. Defences	125	(3)
(1) Parliamentary intervention	125	(1)
(2) Limitation periods	125	(1)
(3) Change of position and estoppel	125	(3)
(4) Submission to an honest claim and compromises	128	(1)
2. The requirements of Community law	128	(13)
A. Recovery of charges wrongly paid out by a public authority under a Community scheme	128	(2)
(1) Introduction	128	(1)
(2) An obligation to recover	129	(1)
(3) Rationale for the decisions	130	(1)
B. Recovery of charges wrongly paid in breach of Community state aid rules	130	(3)
(1) Introduction	130	(1)
(2) An obligation to demand restitution	131	(1)
(3) No obligation to recover	132	(1)
(4) Rationale for the decisions	132	(1)
C. Interest	133	(1)
D. Defences	134	(7)
(1) Statutory provisions barring recovery	135	(1)
(2) Assurance of legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations-limitation periods and other defences	135	(5)
(3) Conduct of the national authorities	140	(1)
3. The impact of Community law on English law	141	(8)
A. The right to restitution	141	(3)
(1) Restitution required by Community law	141	(1)
(2) Grounds of recovery	141	(4)
a. Situations i-iii-mistaken payments out of a Community fund	142	(1)
b. Situation iv-national aid is paid out to a company in contravention of the Community state aid rules	142	(1)
i. Illegal and ultra vires payments	143	(1)
ii. Payment out of the consolidated fund	144	(1)
iii. A proprietary claim	144	(1)
B. Interest	144	(1)
C. Defences	145	(4)
(1) Parliamentary intervention	145	(1)
(2) Limitation periods	145	(1)
a. Situations i-iii-mistaken payments out of a Community fund	145	(1)
b. Situation iv-national aid is paid out to a company in contravention of the Community state aid rules	145	(1)
(3) Change of position and estoppel	146	(1)
a. Situations i-iii-mistaken payments out of a Community fund	146	(1)
b. Situation iv-national aid is paid out to a company in contravention of the Community state aid rules	146	(1)
(4) Submission to an honest claim and compromises	147	(2)
CHAPTER 6 BENEFITS CONFERRED UNDER A CONTRACT OR CONTRACTUAL TERM INFRINGING THE EC TREATY COMPETITION RULES	149	(46)
1. Introduction	149	(6)
A. A Community right to recover?	149	(1)
B. The EC Treaty competition rules-Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty	150	(1)
C. Actions for the recovery of benefits conferred in contravention of Article 81 or Article 82 in national courts	151	(4)
(1) Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty	151	(3)
(2) The UK Competition Act 1998	154	(1)
2. The position in English law	155	(28)
A. The cases	155	(3)
(1) The Beer Tie cases	155	(2)
(2) The motor fuel agreement	157	(1)
(3) Summary of the cases	158	(1)
B. Recovery and Article 81-the position in principle	158	(11)
(1) Recovery of money	158	(7)
a. Nullity	159	(2)
b. An action for money had and received	161	(1)
i. Mistake	161	(1)
ii. Failure of consideration	161	(1)
iii. Illegality (policy motivated restitution)	163	(1)
c. Counter-restitution	163	(1)
d. Fully executed contracts	164	(1)
e. A proprietary claim?	165	(1)
(2) Recovery of other benefits	165
(3) Restitution for torts?	161	(8)
C. Recovery and Article 82	169	(1)
D. Interest	169	(1)
E. Defences	169	(14)
(1) Limitation periods	170	(1)
(2) Change of position	170	(1)
(3) Passing on	170	(1)
(4) The in pari delicto rule	170	(19)
a. Introduction	170	(1)
b. The meaning of illegality	171	(2)
c. The application of the inpari delicto principle in the English courts	173	(1)
i. Criticisms of the in pari delicto rule	173	(1)
ii. Application in the cases	175	(1)
d. Non-application of the principle: where the illegality is not relied on	175	(1)
e. Exceptions to the in pari delicto rule: the "Kinni" principle	175	(1)
i. Article 81	176	(1)
ii. Article 82	180	(1)
iii. Interpretation of Articles 81 and 82	181	(1)
f. Exceptions to the in pari delicto rule-mistake	182	(1)
g. Exceptions to the inpari delicto rule-withdrawal within the locus poenitentiae	182	(1)
h. Benefits conferred under a void and illegal clause of the contract	182	(1)
i. Conclusions	183	(1)
3. The position under EC law-the impact of Community law on the English law	183	(11)
A. Summary of the English position	183	(2)
B. A reference to the Court of Justice	185	(4)
C. The effect of Community law	189	(4)
(1) The principles of equivalence and effectiveness	189	(1)
(2) A right to recover benefits conferred under a contract offending Article 81 or 82	190	(3)
D. Defences	193	(1)
4. Conclusions	194	(1)
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS	195	(4)
1. Community law-the relevance of the principle of unjust enrichment	195	(2)
2. The limitations of the English restitutionary categories	197	(1)
3. Restitution and void contracts	198	(1)
Index	199