elni 1/2000 En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional
38
1 In oduc ion
We can de ine VEAs as hose commi men s signed
among human o legal people (gene ally i ms o
sec o s o i ms) need ul o Adminis a i e au ho i-
sa ion, o be ween a public and p i a e law people
o among public people in o de o imp o e o o go
deeply in o he p o ec ion o he en i onmen .
By means o his de ini ion, we in oduce he h ee
mos impo an exis ing VEAs (Ca a o and
Lé êque, 1999) al hough we mus ad ance ha
hose we conside he main ones o ou s udy a e
he ag eed be ween he p i a e and Adminis a ions.
Few VEAs ha e been signed in Spain. The las
Eu opean Commission In en o y o En i onmen al
Ag eemen s in Eu ope e eals ha jus 6 Volun a y
Ag eemen s ha e been app o ed in Spain o he
p o ec ion o he en i onmen , all o hem loca ed in
he ield o Indus y. Abou 20% o hese ag ee-
men s conce n was e managemen (Ing am, 1999).
This igu e is only alid on a na ion-wide scale, as
ha o icial In en o y does no ake he Ag eemen s
celeb a ed on he local and egional sphe e in o
conside a ion. This numbe , low om all pe spec-
i es, in no such a low ciphe i we conside ha , in
he Eu ope-wide scale he e a e coun ies which
ind hemsel es e en mo e behind han Spain in he
adop ion o Ag eemen s. Fo ins ance, Finland, wi h
wo, I eland wi h one and Luxembou g wi h i e a e
examples o his ac . And, wha is mo e, excep o
Holland and Ge many (wi h 93 and 103 Ag ee-
men s espec i ely) he es o he coun ies ha e a
simila numbe o VEAs like Spain. So we ha e
F ance wi h 8, G eece wi h 7 I aly wi h ele en...
2 Con ex in which Volun a y Ag eemen s
Conce ning Was e a e bo n in Spain
The inc ease ha he amoun o was e has expe i-
enced o he las yea s in Spain is no bu a p ime
example o a common phenomenon in all indus i-
alised coun ies. Th ee a e he majo causes o his
∗Facul ad de De echo, Uni e si y o Se illa, Se illa, Spain
spec acula ise: he popula ion g ow h, he en-
dency o he u ban concen a ion o he same, and
he demands imposed by he mode n consume soci-
e y (Alenza, 1997). Thus, in Spain, om 1986 o
1995, an inc ease o 39% has aken place on he
local p oduc ion o was e, whe eas he popula ion
has only been 1, 4% up.
Rega ding he was e, VEAs a e specially use ul, as
hey a e p e en i e ins umen s. As an example, we
can quo e he ag eemen s signed by he local
au ho i ies oge he wi h me chan s and consume s
in o de o educe he amoun o plas ic bags which
a e usually gi en as a p esen in he shops in an
indisc imina e way. These bags, made up o low
densi y poly hene, a e ep esen a i e o up o a 15%
o he whole plas ic p oduc ion and complica e he
p ocesses o la e ea men e y much (CEIA,
1998).
Some possible easons which can explain he sca ce
use ha has been made o VEAs ill now in Spain
may be he ollowing:
• The cons i u ional doub s emaining behind he
legi imacy o Volun a y Ag eemen s, o which
can be added he delay in he es ablishmen o a
democ a ic Spanish Cons i u ion in Spain
(1978), unde s ood as a legal suppo o VEAs
in Spanish legal Sys em.
• The lack o clea ness abou he dis ibu ion o
he powe s be ween he S a e, he Regions and
he local au ho i ies o he app o al o En i-
onmen al Ag eemen s, wha has highligh ed
he ou s anding shyness o he Regions when
implemen ing VEAs.
• The igno ance o he echnical con en and he
ue legal s a us o he Volun a y Ag eemen as
a means o p o ec he en i onmen .
Acco ding o he e minology used by he Fi h
Eu opean P og am, Spanish Volun a y Ag eemen s
a e included in ou g ea subsec ions: con inen al
wa e esou ces, was e managemen , pollu ion and
ai quali y and ozone laye deple ion (Eu opean
Commission, 1996).
The signing pa ies a e gene ally on he one hand, a
Minis y, and on he o he , he associa ions o he
V
OLUNTARY
E
NVIRONMENTAL
A
GREEMENTS AND
W
ASTE
M
ANAGEMENT
–
EXPERIENCES FROM SPAIN AND GERMANY
The Law and Con ex o he Volun a y En i onmen al App oach Conce ning
Packaging and Was e Managemen in Spain
An onio José Sánchez Sáez∗
En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional elni 1/2000
39
b anches o companies. So, he Minis y o En i-
onmen o ha o Public Wo ks o some Au ono-
mous Go e nmen , on he pa o he Adminis a-
ion. On he p i a e pa , ag eemen s ha e been
signed wi h he s a ione y, he ene gy, he engine
and anspo sec o s.
Spanish VEAs ha e no supposed un il now an
al e na i e o he classic en i onmen al egula ion,
bu a he hey link wi h he de elopmen o he
in e na ional se o ules (p og essi e dec ease o
CFCs in acco dance wi h he Mon eal P o ocol)
and he na ional (Na ional Plan o Was e Dec ease)
(EEA, 1998). The e o e, i is no discussed in
Spanish Law he law ulness o hose ypical VEAs
belonging o o he coun ies (Holland, o example)
whose applica ion is imposed in exchange o he
inhibi ion o he Go e nmen , which a oids gi ing
no ms unila e ally in he ma e . VEAs suppose a
empo a ily in e media e s ep be ween he "com-
mand and con ol" classic egula ions and he ee-
dom o pac s as a inal en i onmen al aim
(Lascoumes, 1994).
In his pape we a e going o clea he i s and hi d
easons a o emen ioned, which can explain he
le ha gy o he En i onmen al Ag eemen as an
ins umen in Spanish En i onmen al policy, de-
coding he keys ha p e en us om a mo e open
app oach o he En i onmen al Ag eemen s. So, i is
a ques ion o conc e ing i s cons i u ional legi i-
macy and i s legal na u e.
3 Cons i u ional Rele ance o VEAs in Spain
3.1 Cons i u ional Backg ound o VEAs in Spain
The subjec we now ace is no a i ial one, aking
in o accoun ha he e a e se e al S a es o he
Eu opean Union which a e wa ned o a possible
iola ion o hei Cons i u ional p inciples by
VEAs, like hose ela ed o public pa icipa ion,
human igh s o a heal hy en i onmen , o he p o-
hibi ion o en ail he powe s o he Adminis a ion
( o ins ance, he powe o egula ion, as a p o o-
ype) in espec o indi idual con ac s (Jülich and
Falk, 1999).
In ou case, conside ing ha VEAs a e included
wi hin he igu e o he collabo a ion ag eemen
(CA om now one), and ha his, a he same ime,
is a ca ego y inside he ag eemen gen e, he e is
li le o oppose o he capabili y o Spanish Laws o
accep pac s signed be ween he Adminis a ion and
he p i a e wi h he pu pose o p o ec ing he en i-
onmen (Sánchez Sáez). F om his angle, he pos-
sible cons i u ional d awbacks when app o ing his
ype o ag eemen s a e he same ha he con ac s
o Adminis a ion, ha is o say, none. The a ibu-
ion o he S a e o his con en ional capabili y is
placed in he sec ion a . 149. 1. 18ª o Spanish
Cons i u ion.
We a e s udying he con ac ual subjec , o e
which, on he one hand, he S a e has compe ence
on basic legisla ion, and, on he o he , he Au ono-
mous Communi ies o e he de elopmen o ha
legisla ion.
Thanks o his capabili y, he Ac 13/1995, 18 h
May, ega ding Con ac s o Public Adminis a-
ions, was passed. In his Ac we ind he essen ial
key ha allows he use o VEAs. To be exac , in i s
sec ion 3. 1. d), he igu e o collabo a ion ag ee-
men s (CAs) be ween he Public Au ho i ies and he
P i a e is desc ibed. This ule will be de eloped
la e when e e ing o he legal na u e o VEAs in
Spain. In addi ion o his, he sec ion 4 o his Ac
g an s a la ge eedom o he Adminis a ion o
acco d e e y ype o ag eemen s, pac s o con ac-
ual condi ions wi h people.
Clea ly, i is abou a ule insc ibed inside he Ac on
Con ac s o Public Adminis a ions, which gi es
alidi y o hose ag eemen s o public o p i a e
na u e. Anyway, he bounda ies es ablished by he
sec ion 4 o he Ac 13/1995 o he Adminis a ion
a e mo e igid han hose se by he sec ion 1255 o
he Ci il Code o he p i a e.
O he cons i u ional suppo , his in ela ion wi h
in e adminis a i e VEAs can be ound in he abili y
ha Spanish Cons i u ion a ibu es o he app o al
o coope a i e ag eemen s celeb a ed be ween he
Au onomous Communi ies as o p o ide common
se ices. This is men ioned in he sec ion 145. 2 o
Spanish Cons i u ion. The e, Spanish Cons i u ion
dis inguishes be ween ag eemen s o p o ide own
se ices and coope a ion ag eemen s. The second
a e a ypical and lend a wide ma gin o eedom o
Au onomous Communi ies (Pé ez Mo eno y o os,
1981). In any case, his cons i u ional p ecep can
be unde s ood as alid o he celeb a ion o ag ee-
men s o coope a ion and collabo a ion among
wha e e Adminis a ion.
In his sense, he sec ion 6 o he Ac 30/1992, o
he Legal Regime o he Public Adminis a ions and
he Common Adminis a i e P ocess, de ines he
legal egime o he collabo a ion in e adminis a i e
ag eemen s, inside which we can include, o cou se,
he in e adminis a i e VEAs, which a e no he
p o o ypical ones in he ield o En i onmen al
p o ec ion.
The sec ion 149. 1. 18ª o Spanish Cons i u ion also
g an s he S a e he exclusi e compe ence on " he
bases o he legal egime o he Public Adminis a-
ions... and he Common Adminis a i e P ocesses,
gi ing as well o Au onomous Communi ies he
allowance o de elop i s own speciali ies on he
subjec ma e . Because o his i was passed in
elni 1/2000 En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional
40
1992 he men ioned Ac 30/1992, 26 h No embe ,
ecen ly modi ied by he Ac 4/1999, 13 h Janua y.
The 5 h heading o he sec ion 3 o ha Ac has
egula ed wo new gene al p inciples a ec ing he
egime o he ag eemen s signed by Adminis a-
ions. Such p inciples ha e o be ollowed by he
Adminis a ions when in e ac ing wi h he ci izens
and companies. Those a e he p inciples o ans-
pa ency and o he pa icipa ion o he ci izens in
he public a ai s. Th ough he olun a y Ag ee-
men s we can con ide in he opening o new ways
o posi i a ion o he in luence o ci izens in he
adminis a i e a ai s: i is impo an he "wha ", bu
i is mo e in e es ing in a legal con ex he "how"
aking in o accoun he pa icipa ion (Pé ez Mo eno,
1981). And gi en ha he e is no longe a mo e
di ec ela ion wi h he ci izenship han ha de i ed
om he con ac ual ac i i y o he Adminis a ion,
hese p inciples mus be applied o VEAs.
These wo p inciples a e, as we ha e ad anced,
hose o anspa ency and pa icipa ion. The p inci-
ple o pa icipa ion (sec ion 9. 2 o Spanish Cons i-
u ion) has a clea e and di ec ela ion o VEAs, as
i is in he philosophy o pa icipa ion wi h he p i-
a e whe e we mus inse hem. So much i is his
way ha he 5 h Communi a y Ac ion P og amme
announces he p inciple o sha ed esponsibili y,
one o he majo con ibu ions o he En i onmen al
policy, emphasising he impo ance o he in eg a-
ion o he la ge amoun o possible social agen s in
he p osecu ion o en i onmen al aims, conside ing
as "in e es ed agen s" no only he Public Admini-
s a ion bu also associa ions o consume s, em-
ploye s, ecologis o ganisa ions, housewi es, ade
unions, and so on... The Recommenda ion 96/73/CE
o he Eu opean Commission, 9 h Decembe 1996,
ela ed o he Ag eemen s on En i onmen h ough
which he Communi a y Di ec i es a e imple-
men ed (DOCE L nº. 333, de 21s -12-1996), de el-
ops his concep .
This p inciple comes om, mo eo e , he possibil-
i y ha he p i a e ha e o inish a conc e e admin-
is a i e p ocess by ag eemen s, which is a chance
gi en by he Ac 30/1992. As a ma e o ha , al-
eady gained by he `pa icipa i e philosophy´ many
impo an sec o s o he Adminis a i e ac i i ies, in
Spain, such as he elabo a ion o egula ions (as
s a ed in Ac 6/1997, 14 h Ap il), he economic
educa i e heal h and u ban coo dina ion... i only
lacked gi ing way o ci izens o achie e he mos
sac ed place o he classic adminis a i e powe s:
he Adminis a i e Law. Tha is he in en ion o he
sec ion 88 o he Ac 30/1992, which has es ab-
lished a basic egime o all he ag eemen s, pac s
and acco ds ha he Adminis a ions sign wi h he
p i a e, egula ing he bo de s and hei minimal
con en . This basic egula ion is sa egua ded by he
sec ion 149. 1. 18ª o Spanish Cons i u ion, abo e
quo ed (Sánchez Sáez, 1998).
The na ional egula ion on en i onmen has also a
basic cha ac e , wi hou he p ejudice o he
Au onomous Communi ies being able o se addi-
ional p o ec i e en i onmen al ules (sec ion 149.
1. 18ª o Spanish Cons i u ion). The same p esc ip-
ion mus be done abou he na ional ule on moun-
ains, wood p o i s and ca le pa hs. In his ame-
wo k, o ins ance, a ecen en i onmen al egula-
ion has been passed allowing he celeb a ion o
VEAs wi h he pu pose o en i onmen al p o ec-
ion, as we will see la e on. A ypical example is
he Ac 10/1998, 21s Ap il, abou Was e.
In o he sec o ial cases, i is possible o ind cons i-
u ional suppo o he En i onmen al Ag eemen s
in he na ional basic legisla ion as a as he Gene al
Planning o he Economic Ac i i y is conce ned
(sec ion 149. 1. 13 h o Spanish Cons i u ion), wide
se ing in which his o ically he planning ules o
eo ganisa ion and mode nisa ion o indus ial ac-
i i ies a e included, as o example. In hese, CAs
be ween he Public Adminis a ions and de ini e
indus ial sec o s delayed we e o eseen in Spain.
3.2 Cons i u ional bo de s o he signing o VEAs
in Spain
As he con en ional en i onmen al ac i i y o he
Public Adminis a ions is conside ed in Spain as a
speci ic adminis a i e ac i i y, he i s limi s ha
mus be ul illed on he Public pa when subsc ib-
ing a VEA, a e he gene al edges o which his has
o be submi ed. Tha is o say, his mus espec he
p inciple o legali y (Ca e e o Pé ez, 1970), he
p inciples collec ed in he sec ion 103. 1 o Spanish
Cons i u ion and he basic p inciples o he legal
Regime o he Public Adminis a ion o he Ac
30/1992 (sec ion 3, plus he no el ies in oduced by
Ac 4/1999, 13 h Janua y: p inciples o bona ide,
legi ima e us , e iciency, se ice o he ci izens,
anspa ency and pa icipa ion) which a e e oding
he ancien ju isdic ions o he Adminis a ions.
The p inciple o adminis a i e legali y is closely
ela ed o he main commi men o Public Admini-
s a ions, which is no o he han objec i ely se ing
o he common good. We mus hink o e , be o e
any hing else, abou he impac ha he en i on-
men al adminis a ion by means o ag eemen s has
p o oked in he bases o he "classic En i onmen al
Law". This has been mo i a ed, among o he ea-
sons, by a e y easonable eluc ance o he T ibu-
nals o accep ha he sea ch o he collec i e in-
e es s and he espec o he legali y cha ac e is ic
o he p e ious en i onmen al policy be compa ible
wi h an indi idual p o i o a conc e e i m. This
p ejudices we e mos han jus i ied in some o he
En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional elni 1/2000
41
ields o he adminis a i e con ac ualism in Spain,
such as he u ban pac s.
No wi hs anding, a ac emains unques ionable: he
e olu ion o he legisla i e echnique is leading us
o soo he he consequences o he p inciple o le-
gali y. Nowadays we see how Ac s gi e a wide
ange o ins umen s o he sea ch o he public
in e es , o e coming he legisla i e ê e ie o he
XIX h cen u y. Today, i is usual ha a no m be
applied no only h ough he egula ions bu also
h ough ag eemen s o economic and inancial
ools, sanc ions... Bu i is also usual ha he Ac
does no descend o a deg ee o conc e ion ha
disable he chance o nego ia ion by he Admini-
s a ion (Delgado Pique as, 1995). This e idence
lends alidi y o no legally quali ied VEAs which
could be included in he ma gin o con ac ualism
le by he Ac .
The de ence o common good by he Adminis a-
ion (sec ion 103 o Spanish Cons i u ion) is o he
o hose gene al limi s imposed o he con ac ual
capabili y o Public powe s. So, in VEAs, he Ad-
minis a ion can nego ia e, bu in a way ha dis-
ables Public au ho i y o come o an ag eemen on
en i onmen al goals awa ding he i ms and no he
gene al in e es s o he ci izens. Tha leads o he
ques ion o he quali y o he legal ela ions needed
in En i onmen al Ag eemen s: beha iou al codes o
gen lemen acco ds a e no so dange ous o public
needs as legally binding con ac s. I is abou an old
polemic o Adminis a i e Law, ha comes om
he la e yea s o XIX h cen u y in F ance (and a -
e wa ds in Spain, I aly, Ge many and o he Eu o-
pean coun ies) abou he eal possibili y gi en o
Public Adminis a ion o ag ee like a p i a e indi-
idual. The idea o collabo a ion was hough o be
pe ec ly compa ible wi h he gene al posi ion o
supe io i y o Adminis a ion (Ca bonnie , 1988)
because he collabo a ion way o ac does no in-
ol e he pa i y o bo h sides o an ag eemen
(Ma ín-Re o illo Baque , 1959).
This a gumen is s ill mo e wo hy in he CAs,
whe e he Public au ho i ies and he p i a e ind
each o he a he same le el. Howe e , ha was he
ue eason used by he F ench Conseil d´É a o
deny VEAs as a legal ins umen , in he amous
a ê "F iends o he Ea h"(P ieu , 1995).
The sec ion 106 o Spanish Cons i u ion builds
o he gene al bo de o he adminis a i e ac i i y:
his has o be a legal and accu a e ac i i y in ela-
ion o he scope o Adminis a ion, which in ol es
he submission o he Judges and T ibunals. The
con ac s mus be unde ha legal demand, no only
he adminis a i e bu he p i a e Law con ac s,
and also VEAs. The p oblem wi h a aching he
adminis a i e ac i i y o aim i s scope is he ambi-
gui y o hose objec i es, which a e no o en well
de ined. This handicap is s ill s essed in VEAs,
whose conc e e pu poses some imes appea no o
exis , making di icul o ake legal ac ions on "de-
ia ion o powe s".
Mo e speci ic bo de s o con ac ual capabili y a e
se in he abo e men ioned sec ion 4 Ac 13/1995,
which p e en s Adminis a ion om ag eeing
"when he condi ions o he acco d we e opposed o
public in e es s, o legal egula ions and o good
managemen p inciples". These wo i s limi s a e
gene al. The good managemen p inciples demand
economic e iciency, which, aken o he en i on-
men al p o ec ion, equi es compe i ion and com-
pe i i eness when selec ing companies o he VEA.
Hue go Lo a has highligh ed some ma e ial limi s o
he subsc ip ion o ag eemen s in Spain. Fi s ly,
ag eemen s binding egula ion powe o Admini-
s a ion we e ha dly accep ed. Gi en ha i is by
means o egula ions how he gene al in e es s a e
o de ed, i seems o be inapp op ia e linking a
egula ion, bound o a end he gene al conce ns, o
he sa is ac ion o a ew indi idual in e es s. Al-
hough his ype o d awback does no specially
a ec VEAs conce ning Was e (due o he ac ha
hese a e mainly add essed o implemen he ules)
we could a i m his possibili y when, as he au ho
says, he deg ee o conc e ion o he egula ion be
maximum, in o he wo ds, when we ace egula-
ions ha , because o he ac hey a e add essed o
a e y p ecise g oup o ci izens, condi ion, as less as
possible, he gene al in e es s (Hue go Lo a, 1998).
They a e also o complica e compliance he admin-
is a i e ac s o judgemen o opinion encha ged o
a speci ic body o he Adminis a ion, due o i s
high impa iali y and echnical capabili y o dic a e
hem. This is he case, o example, o he adminis-
a i e sanc ions.
4 VEAs Conce ning Was e in Spain
As i is al eady known, VEAs a e a a a a is in
Spanish en i onmen al policy. No wi hs anding,
li le by li le such a igu e is being app ecia ed,
encou aged by he Communi a y di ec i es and by
he inc easing in e es ha he doc ine is showing
(nowadays mo e a echnical han a legal one). As a
esul o his unde s anding a mosphe e, we ind a
e y new egula ion co pus, ha , acco ding o us,
will b ing abou a ue e olu ion ega ding he use
o VEAs in Spain, abo e all on he was e manage-
men amewo k. The e a e wo ecen Ac s which
ha e aken in o accoun he olun a y ag eemen s
o he p oduc ion, ea men and ecycling o was e
in Spain: he Ac 11/1997, 24 h Ap il, on Packaging
and Packaging Was e and he Ac 10/1998, 21s
Ap il, o Was e. A e hem, some o he Au ono-
mous Communi ies, such as Ca alonia, Basque
elni 1/2000 En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional
42
Coun y and Mu cia ha e la gely used hese ins u-
men s.
4.1 VEAs in he ield o Packaging and Packaging
Was e in Spain
Be o e coming deeply in o he egula ion o Vol-
un a y Ag eemen s placed in he Ac o Packaging,
i could be use ul o in o m abou a p e ious p ojec
o VEA which ailed due o many easons. Like he
F ench and Ge man olun a y was e plans o he
i s 90s, Spain wan ed o ha e a simila olun a y
was e managemen sys em. So, he P esiden o he
En i onmen Spanish Employe s O ganisa ions
Commission p oposed i o Spanish Wa e and
En i onmen S a e Sec e a y, based on a g ea Vol-
un a y Ag eemen celeb a ed be ween Minis ies,
Au onomous Communi ies and Local au ho i ies
and he in ol ed Spanish o ganisa ions. The wo ks
we e ac ually e y ad anced when he UE Di ec i e
94/62/CE was passed, which caused he ea ly dea h
o his VEA. Ne e heless, he de eloped s udies
we e used o build up he s uc u es o he Was e
Managemen Volun a y Sys ems, ecen ly app o ed
a e he Ac o Packaging (Po eda Gómez, 1997).
The packaging was e ep esen s a huge pa o he
whole amoun o was e in Spain. To ge his a ge ,
he 5 h Communi a y Ac ion P og amme on En i-
onmen and Sus ainable De elopmen app o ed he
men ioned Di ec i e, and a e wa ds, Spanish Pa -
liamen passed he Ac 11/1997, which was inse ed
in he amewo k o basic na ional legisla ion on
Planning o gene al economic ac i i y (a . 149. 1.
13ª o Spanish Cons i u ion) and on En i onmen
(a . 149. 1. 23ª o Spanish Cons i u ion).
Spanish Packaging Ac ies o achie e di e en
aims: s imula ing p e en ion and eusing packaging
and es ablishing he o eseen objec i es o ecycling
and managemen . In addi ion o he obliga ion,
imposed o manu ac u e s, o using packaging
was e ma e ials, he Chap e IV o he Ac o de s
wo di e en p ocesses o packaging was e ea -
men : he i s one, which is also he gene al sys em,
consis s o he pa icipa ion o all agen s in ol ed in
he business chain (indus ials, impo e s, wholesale
and e ail deale s) who mus collec om hei cli-
en s, up o he inal consume , an amoun o money
o each uni o bo led p oduc sold, e unding o
all o hem he same amoun when he clien s b ing
he bo les o cans back as well. The second sys em,
he one we a e in e es ed in, ee he business agen s
om ha obliga ion, when aking pa in an In e-
g a ed Packaging and Packaging Was e Manage-
men Sys em (SIG), known as well like "g een
poin sys em". This also gua an ees pe iodical col-
lec ing and ecycling o bo les and he achie emen
o he pu poses o eusing. The au ho isa ion o
hese sys ems, implemen ed h ough olun a y
ag eemen s signed be ween he agen s, conce ns o
Au onomous Communi ies.
In compa ison wi h o he Eu opean coun ies,
Spanish Law is especially linked o Eu opean Law
objec i es, gi en ha i demands om Spanish
socie y he educ ion o 10% o he whole packag-
ing was e olume in 30 h June 2001, which does no
occu in any o he Eu opean coun y.
4.2 The Legal Na u e o Packaging and Packag-
ing Was e Ag eemen s in Spain
In his no m he e is a gene al p inciple suppo ing
he ag eemen s o he managemen and ea men
o he used bo les and he managemen o he pack-
aging was e. This is in acco dance wi h he 3 d Ad-
di ional Disposi ion o he Ac , encou aging he use
o he ag eemen s be ween he Public compe en
Adminis a ions and he economic agen s wi h he
in en ion o p e en ing and educing he impac on
he en i onmen caused by he packaging was e
h oughou he li e ime o he bo les. Bu apa
om his decla a ion o in en ions, he Ac o e ells
he use o speci ic olun a y En i onmen al
Ag eemen s. Thus, he Ac p oposes he appea ance
o he so-called SIG, as an al e na i e o he obliga-
ions ha he ules ix o he p oduce s and me -
chan s o bo led p oduc s. Fo his eason, a he
han a comple e op ion o he no m i sel , hese
sys ems a e bo n like a al e na i e wi hin he no m
(and so legi ima e) which exemp hem om he
gene al was e managemen egime ( his based on
he obliga ion o eusing he bo les e u ned back
by he use s in exchange o he paymen o a quan-
i y o money pe uni ) (Rehbinde , 1997). The Ac
es ablishes his way wo sys ems, mo ing i sel
owa ds he ag eed solu ion, as his is mo e e icien
and en i onmen al p o ec i e.
The SIGs included in Spanish Ac inspi e in hose
F ench plans egula ed by he F ench Dec ee 92-
377, 1s Ap il, bu di e s om hem in he ac ha
whe eas in Spanish ones he collec is ca ied ou by
he local En i ies, ha join he sys em by means o
Volun a y Ag eemen s, in he F ench ones his is
o de ed di ec ly by he Ac . This equi emen o
wil ulness was demanded om he beginning by he
ep esen a i es o he local En i ies (Mad id, Ba -
celona and o he s, o ins ance), some hing ha ,
howe e , did no pleased he Employe s O ganisa-
ions e y much. Unlike, in Ca alonia, hanks o he
Ac 6/1993, on Was e, he Local co po a ions ex-
ceeding 5.000 inhabi an s ha e o in oduce selec-
i e was e se ices, which a e pe ec ly compa ible
wi h he exis ence o olun a y ag eemen s in he
na ional egula ions, as he Au onomous Communi-
ies has he compe ence o de elop and implemen
hose ules.

En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional elni 1/2000
43
Bu , which is he legal na u e o hese sys ems?
Acco ding o us, he e a e wo di e en sys ems:
hose comple ely subsc ibed be ween he p i a e
and hose o he s in which a local En i y o a
Au onomous Communi y plays a ole. On he one
hand, he i s sys ems (sec ion 7) a e s uc u ed as
p i a e con ac s be ween he bo le companies o
ade deale s o bo led i ems and o he managemen
i ms o packaging in cha ge o e alua ing, ecy-
cling and eusing hem (Mo e and B egha, 1999).
The ac is ha hese sys ems a e de o ed o execu e
a ce ain ype o public unc ions - he was e ea -
men - and i is o ha eason ha he Ac demands
some adminis a i e con ol o he SIG. In his case,
a legal au ho isa ion is equi ed, conceded by he
Au onomous Communi ies.
On he o he hand, he o he gen e o ag eemen s
(sec ion 9) a e ac ually ypical olun a y ag eemen s,
due o he pa icipa ion o a Public Adminis a ion in
hem (Local Au ho i ies, gene ally, o Au onomous
Communi ies, subsidia y). He e, a g ea ma gin o
eedom is gi en o he sides o he acco d. They can,
o example, conc e e complemen a y inancial
mechanisms, he way o ans e ing he p ope y o
packaging was e om Township o he managemen
company, empo al da es o collabo a ion, and so on...
This eedom inse s his ype o VEAs in one o he
se en classi ica ions es ablished by Bö key and
Glachan . In pa icula , hey a e con ac ual nego i-
a ed collec i e engagemen s, simila o he Du ch
co enan s bu wi h a con en mo e public han p i a e
g an ed by he adminis a i e p o ec ion o he egu-
la ions, as i is he ule in he coun ies wi h a he i age
om F ench Adminis a i e Law (Bö key and
Glachan , 1997).
This second ype o ag eemen s a e said o be CAs o
encou aging p i a e ac i i ies ega ding gene al in e -
es s. As a ma e o ac , hey a e public con ac s,
submi ed o Adminis a i e Law. I is no he same
hing o s imula e p i a e ac i i ies ega ding he
common in e es han he p i a e execu ion o public
powe s. Apa om he di e ence o he o mal in-
s umen s used in each one (con ac s and adminis a-
i e au ho isa ions, espec i ely), he o igin o he
ac i i y also a ies om one o ano he sys ems: he
public powe s encou aging he p i a e ac i i y o
euse and ecycle he packaging was e (in he i s
ones) and he p i a e i ms ag ee o do he same (in
he second) (Ca illo Donai e, 1999).
And, wha is mo e, hese ag eemen s in which Ad-
minis a ions pa icipa es a e binding ag eemen s,
gi en ha he ela ions bo n om hem a e legally
egula ed: he p i a e i ms ha e o pay a ce ain
amoun o money o he Adminis a ions in exchange
o hei collabo a ion in he anspo o he packag-
ing was e o he managemen en i y. I no , he Ad-
minis a ions can collec ha quan i y, om he p i-
a e side o he ag eemen , h ough a su e y o deposi
ha hey a e demanded (sec ion 10. 3). Any con ac-
ual b each o he olun a y ag eemen en i les he
Adminis a ion o pu a ligh sanc ion o he manage-
men i m (sec ion 19). Howe e , no hing is said
abou con ac ual non-comple ions by he Admini-
s a ion i sel . Consequen ly, we ha e o make use o
hese solu ions o eseen by he Con ac Legisla ion
(Ac 13/1995, al eady men ioned) in he ield o CAs.
These a e olun a y ag eemen s, and he wil ulness
is almos pu e and does no ind menaced by he
en o cing adminis a i e powe o passing mo e
ha m ul egula ions in case o non- comple ion o
he ag eemen by he i ms, which supposes some-
imes a dis o ing measu e (ELNI and CAMERON
MAY edi o s, 1999).
O he basic equi emen s mus appea in SIG o be
passed, as i is usual in he sphe e o olun a y ag ee-
men s: conc e ion o objec i es, clea ing he se ing o
inancial mechanisms, ins umen s o check he a ge
compliance, public in o ma ion o he ag eemen , and
so on. As i is also usual in CAs, hese packaging and
packaging was e ag eemen s a e empo ally limi ed (5
yea s). Despi e he ac ha he sec ion 8 desc ibes he
con en o he ag eemen applica ion o m, he
au ho isa ions a e no ansmissible o hi d pa ies.
The cause o his is he disc e iona y na u e o he
au ho isa ion, gi en in iew o he in ol ed i ms (in
ui u pe sonae) which is an cha ac e is ic o CAs as
well.
Finally, he Ac es ablishes in he sec ion 18 a gene al
clause encou aging he ag eemen s, whe e he use o
economic ins umen s by he Adminis a ions is
o e old wi h he "g een" pu poses al eady men ioned.
4.3 Volun a y SIG al eady celeb a ed in Spain
Thanks, among o he causes, o he p o i s emming
om he Volun a y ag eemen p ojec on Was e,
which was le jus be o e he app o al o he Ac
11/1997, h ee g ea SIGs we e immedia ely bo n in
Spain: ECOEMBES, ECOACERO and
ECOVIDRIO. Howe e , on he 11 h June 1997, he
second en i y came o an ag eemen wi h he i s
one, which mean he in eg a ion o ECOACERO in
ECOEMBES. See u he de ails in Appendix.
La ely, one mo e SIG has been celeb a ed in Spain:
SIGRE, e e ing o pha maceu ical p oduc s man-
agemen .
4.4 Volun a y Ag eemen s conce ning Was e in
Spain: i s legal na u e
Las yea , Spanish Pa liamen passed he Ac
10/1998, 21s Ap il, on Was e, which is he na u al
complemen o Ac 11/1997, al eady quo ed. Tha
Ac ansposed, wi h wo yea s o delay, he Eu o-
pean Di ec i e 91/156/CEE. The Ac includes all
he ypes o was e p oduced in Spanish S a e, excep
elni 1/2000 En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional
44
o he emissions o he a mosphe e, he e luen s on
wa e and he adioac i e was e. This Ac is loca ed
in he i le o he basic na ional legisla ion on En i-
onmen (sec ion 149. 1. 18 Spanish Cons i u ion).
I is a no el y in oduced by his Ac he incen i e
o collabo a ion be ween he Adminis a ion and he
i ms esponsible o in oducing p oduc s in he
ma ke in ol ing he gene a ion o was e, h ough
an accu a e legal amewo k ha could be imple-
men ed by means o olun a y and collabo a ion
En i onmen al Ag eemen s. The egula ion dis-
posed by his no m is essen ially simila o ha
es ablished in Ac 11/1997.
The sec ions 8 and 28 add ess o he use o En i-
onmen al Ag eemen s. In he sec ion 8 he Legis-
la o sugges s he subsc ip ion o VEAs o he i ms
dealing wi h he p oduc s ha u n in o was e in he
u u e, wi h he ollowing pu poses, s a ed in he
sec ion 7: using o "g een" p oduc s and packaging;
aking pa in an In eg a ed Was e Managemen
Sys em (SIG); accep ing a deposi e und and e u n
Sys em; in o ming o hese p ocesses o Au ono-
mous Communi ies Adminis a ions... The same
ule was al eady egula ed h ee yea s be o e by he
Ac 1/1995, 8 h Ma ch, on P o ec ion o he En i-
onmen , o Au onomous Communi y o Mu cia
(We mus emembe han in Spain, his kind o
Adminis a ions ha e legisla i e powe s).
The sec ion 28 ega ds o a new use o olun a y
ag eemen s: he Au onomous Communi ies will
encou age he owne s o lands pollu ed by he was e
om hemsel es o om somebody else o ag ee
olun a ily wi h Adminis a ions o p i a e indi-
iduals o he cleaning and ecupe a ion o soils.
This is a p o o ypical case-s udy o he en i on-
men al use o con ac s based on he eal es a e
p ope y, which in ol es a plus o obliga ions o
he owne s, o ced o ake ca e o hei land as o
p o ec he igh o a heal hy en i onmen , a so-
called "social unc ion" o he p ope y (Ca bonnie ,
1988).
In bo h cases, he ag eemen s would be celeb a ed,
like in he Ac o Packaging, exclusi ely be ween
he p i a e o be ween he p i a e and he Public
Adminis a ion. The Ac calls he i s ones " olun-
a y ag eemen s", and he second ones "CAs." The
eason is absolu ely logical: i has been ansla ed
om he English exp ession " olun a y ag eemen "
li e ally, because his e e s o a new ool, unknown
un il now in he en i onmen al Spanish policy.
When one o he sides is an Adminis a ion, he
exp ession is "CA", a well known igu e in Spanish
Adminis a i e Law om he o me ules on Ad-
minis a i e Con ac s. The i s ones, au ho ised by
he Au onomous Communi ies, a e p i a e con-
ac s. The second ones a e public con ac s, sub-
mi ed o he Ac 13/1995, ega ding he Con ac s
o he Adminis a ions. As we can see, he same
scheme men ioned in he Ac o Packaging is se -
led.
The Ac conc e es he paymen o economic sup-
po s by he Public au ho i ies, ixed h ough he
olun a y o CAs when cleaning he pollu ed soils.
Pa icula ly, he Na ional Spanish Plan o Reco e -
ing Pollu ed Soils con e es 122. 000 million pese as
o he pe iod om 1995 o 2005, paid hal and hal
be ween he S a e and he Au onomous Communi-
ies (Po eda Gómez, 1998). The speci ic amoun o
he help could be nego ia ed in he CAs, bu i will
be unila e ally egula ed in he case o olun a y
ag eemen s, a e he applica ion o m submi ed by
he people in cha ge o he cleaning. As a compen-
sa ion o hese helps, apa om he ecological
bene i ob ained om his cleaning (which is o he
ad an age o he collec i e owne ship) he Ac
demands ha he whole capi al gains coming om
public helps be sha ed wi h he Adminis a ion: he
quan i y o his bene i s will be also speci ied in he
CA o he conc e e ule which egula es he conces-
sion o he allowance. This comes om he social
unc ion o he p i a e p ope y again.
The e is a di e ence, howe e , be ween he olun-
a y ag eemen s egula ed in bo h Ac s. The mos
impo an one is he es ablishmen , in he Ac
10/1998 o sanc ions o he p i a e which do no
ul il he obliga ions de i ed om he ag eemen . I
we emembe , in he Ac on Packaging, i was only
he bo le and he bo led p oduc s deale s he ones
obliged o subsc ibe any kind o gua an ee om
which he Adminis a ion could collec in case o
any con ac ual b each, also imposing ligh sanc-
ions on he managemen company o he in eg a ed
sys em as he esponsible o he non-comple ion o
wha e e obliga ion coming om he same. In he
Ac on Was e, he sanc ions a e imposed in pe so-
nam, ha is on he ue p o agonis (sec ion 34. 2)
who is in ol ed in a olun a y o CA, so much o
he sec ion 8 as o he sec ion 28 o he Ac . These
a e se ious and e y se ious sanc ions. Wi h his
sanc iona y egime we clea ly see he binding o he
legal obliga ions coming om he ag eemen s. The
ines will be om 5.000.001 pese as o 200.000.000
pese as and disquali ica ion o he sanc ioned pe -
son o keep on wo king, om one up o en yea s in
he case o he e y se ious ones. Fo he se ious
ones, he esponsible pe son will be ined wi h an
amoun om 100.001 up o 5.000.000 pese as and
disquali ica ion up o a yea . As we ha e men ioned
ega ding he cons i u ional limi s o con ac ual
capabili y o he Adminis a ions, he powe o
sanc ion is an ex a comme cium hing, excluded
om a possible olun a y o collabo a ion ag ee-
men , due o he ac ha his powe is an absolu e
adminis a i e au ho i y.
En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional elni 1/2000
45
The Ac 3/1998, 27 h Feb ua y, on En i onmen al
P o ec ion, o he Au onomous Communi y o
Basque Coun y, has he i ue o ad ancing he
Na ional Ac on Was e in a mon h, o eseeing he
use o Volun a y Ag eemen s no only o he
cleaning o pollu ed lands (sec ion 83) bu , in gen-
e al, o sha ing he esponsibili y o he manage-
men o hose ac i i ies isky o he en i onmen
(gene a ion o packaging o packaging was e, as an
example). The Basque Ac calls hem "conce s",
exp ession al eady appea ed in he 60s, in he i s
Spanish economic Ac s on Planning, inspi ed in
hose F ench ones. This Basque no m also sanc ions
he pe son who does no clean o es o e o hei
o iginal s a e he spoiled lands (a . 109, k).
Recen ly, in a "cu ious" empo al coincidence wi h
his Basque Ac , i has been passed he Ac 3/1998
27 h Feb ua y, on In eg al In e en ion o he En i-
onmen al Adminis a ion, o he Au onomous
Communi y o Ca alonia. In his Ac i is gi en he
i s de ini ion o gene al VEA in he his o y o
Spanish en i onmen al egula ion. They a e old o
be " he ag eemen s subsc ibed be ween he en i-
onmen al compe en Adminis a ion and one i m
o he ep esen a i es o a ce ain indus ial sec-
o , by means o which bo h sides bind each o he
in a olun a y way o he achie emen o quan i-
ied objec i es o en i onmen al quali y."
In his concep we can app ecia e he success o he
spi i o acco d, which is enough o such a gene al
and b ie de ini ion like his. Many hings emain
clea and exp essi e abou hei legal na u e:
(1) They a e only olun a y ag eemen s he ones
celeb a ed be ween a public and a p i a e side,
consequen ly submi ed o public egula ions)
excluding he acco ds signed exclusi ely be-
ween he public o be ween he p i a e.
(2) These a e always binding ag eemen s. They
ha e con ac ual na u e, wi h he consequences
a ached o i : judicial e iew and sanc ions.
(3) They mus ha e a speci ic pu pose. Taking his
in o accoun , he Ca alonian Ac does no con-
side he conduc codes o he gen lemen
ag eemen s as VEAs.
(4) The a ge s mus be p e iously ixed by egu-
la ions (as usual) o by adminis a i e Law ( o
ins ance, in he adminis a i e p ocesses o
au ho isa ion o in he con en ional ending o
he p ocess).
The sec ion 8 (4 h pa ag aph) o he Ca alonian Ac
allows he adop ion o wha e e echnical measu es
o p e en he en i onmen om impac s de i ed o
human isky ac i i ies. One o hese ag eemen s can
deal wi h was e ea men , o example, one in
which can be pac ed he use o he bes a ailable
echnologies (BAT), he quan i ying o he was e
olume pe mi ed, and so on... The VEAs es ab-
lished by he Ca alonian Ac a e CAs as well, bu
wi h he special ea u e o being a ue al e na i e o
egula ion, o which hey can a ec o e en o e -
come. They canno , e iden ly, be agains he legis-
la ion, which is a gene al p inciple o Spanish Law
(p inciple o legali y).
5 Liabili y and Pa icipa ion Righ s in Pack-
aging and Was e VEAs in Spain
We ha e al eady an icipa ed some cha ac e is ics o
VEAs when alking abou hei cons i u ional limi s.
Wi hin he legal sphe e o he En i onmen , he e
a e some o he egula ions on VEAs, which ap-
pea ed be o e he Ac s o Packaging and Was e. Fo
ins ance, he egula ions abou he Na u al Pa k o
Cabañe os (1995).
We ha e said ha VEAs belong o a majo gen e o
pac s, he so-called CAs, subsc ibed by he Public
Adminis a ions and he p i a e people ( i ms, in
gene al). The En i onmen al Ag eemen s a e a
conc e e ype o collabo a ion ag eemen s, hose
a icula ed h ough adminis a i e measu es o
encou agemen o help. In hese, he Adminis a ion
gi es an economic quan i y o a inancial, echnical
o legal ad an age o companies aking pa in he
en i onmen al sec o . These i ms engage o ac in a
mo e en i onmen al e icien way. Fo example, a
echnical VEA was signed in July 1999 be ween he
Council o En i onmen o he Au onomous Com-
muni y o Andalucía and Ace inox (a p i a e i m
de o ed o he ob aining o s eel om me allic
was e). In his ag eemen , he Adminis a ion ag ees
o lend echnical suppo o he company ega ding
i s wa e e luen s and mud il e ing.
O he VEA, is implemen ed by he O de 23 d De-
cembe 1994, passed by he Minis y o Indus y
and Ene gy, on App o al o he Second S age o he
En i onmen al Technology and Indus y Plan
(PITMA II). This is a VEA in which he S a e con-
e s a legal ad an age, due o he ac ha he appli-
ca ion o ms o he allowances egula ed, submi -
ed by i ms aking pa in a VEA in he O de , a e
gi en p io i y (sec ion 9. 2, b).
Collabo a ion ag eemen s a e egula ed in sec ion 3.
1, le e s c) and d) o he Ac 13/1995, 18 h May, on
Con ac s o Public Adminis a ions. In le e c) he
Ac es ablishes he legal ules abou in e adminis-
a i e CAs, de eloped on sec ion 6 Ac 30/1992,
abo e quo ed. In le e d) he Ac o de s he legal
egime o CAs signed be ween he p i a e people
and he Public Adminis a ions. He e, he Ac says
ha i will be submi ed o he Adminis a i e Law
hose CAs ha ing he objec o a con ac o public
Wo ks, public se ices, public supply, public con-
sul ancy, public speci ic asks, o wha e e o he
pu pose de o ed o di ec ly sa is y a ce ain gene al
elni 1/2000 En i onmen al Law Ne wo k In e na ional
46
in e es . Gi en ha he p o ec ion o he En i on-
men is es ablished as a public powe (sec ion 45
Spanish Cons i u ion), we ha e o conclude ha
Spanish VEAs a e CAs o sec ion 3. 1. d) and ha
hei basic legal egime is he one o he adminis-
a i e con ac s egula ed in Ac 13/1995. Tha ac
in ol es he applica ion o hem o he gene al p in-
ciples o adminis a i e con ac ualism: publici y,
anspa ency, compe i i eness, binding ela ions
be ween he pa ies, liabili y, judicial e iew by
Adminis a i e T ibunals, and so on... Like p o o-
ypical adminis a i e con ac s, he Adminis a ion
holds powe s h oughou hei li e ime (Cabughei a,
1999).
B ie ly, abou he liabili y o VEAs, we ha e only
o go o sec ion 4 Ac 13/1995, abo e explained,
whe e all ype o pac s, acco ds and ag eemen s a e
allowed o he Adminis a ions i hey a e nei he in
con adic ion o he public in e es s, o he legal
egula ions no o he p inciples o good manage-
men . Thus, in a VEA, in he e en o con ac ual
b each (sec ion 29 Ac 29/1998, 13 h July, on Ad-
minis a i e Ju isdic ion T ibunals) o w ong im-
plemen a ion (sec ions 25 and 30 Ac 29/1998) on
he pa o he Adminis a ion, he i ms could ake
legal measu es and appeal agains hem. On he
con a y, i he con ac ual non-comple ion was
caused by he i ms aking pa in he ag eemen ,
hey could be also p osecu ed by Adminis a ions.
The sec o ial egula ions on each ype o VEA
could no be opposed o his essen ial p inciples o
basic legisla ion (ex sec ion 149. 1. 18 Spanish
Cons i u ion). Bu , wha is mo e, in case he e was
no conc e e egula ions o a VEA, his one would
ha e o espec he same p inciples, in acco dance
wi h he o de s gi en by sec ion 4 Ac 13/1995,
gi en ha he pu sui o public in e es s is an ad-
minis a i e du y which can ne e be gi en up.
Rega ding he legi ima ion o apply o he cou s by
hi d pa ies, we ha e o ake in o conside a ion he
ule o sec ion 19 Ac 29/1998, a o emen ioned,
which con e s ha igh o people and legal socie-
ies holding an accu a e igh o in e es , o co po-
a ions, associa ions, ade unions and g oups a -
ec ed o legally en i led o de end he igh s o
legi ima e collec i e in e es s, and o any ci izen
when legally o eseen (popula p osecu ion ac-
ions). In he en i onmen al ield, his "popula
ac ions" a e no egula ed (due o he sligh p o ec-
ion o his igh in Spanish Cons i u ion) bu , o
ins ance, do a e in he sphe e o own planning. A
ew au ho s complain abou his lack (Jo dano
F aga, 1995).
I he adminis a i e non-comple ion p o oked
measu able damages in a hi d pe son, his hi d will
be able o ask o ex acon ac ual esponsibili y o
he Adminis a ion. The sec ion 139 Ac 30/1992,
awa ds his igh o all hose ha su e some ha m
in hei p ope ies and/o igh s, p o ided ha his
damage be a consequence o he usual o unusual
unc ioning o he Public Se ices. Gi en ha he
public and objec i e cha ac e o he adminis a i e
esponsibili y in Spain (wi hou being necessa y any
blame o negligence). We do no see any handicap
o use his o he al e na i e, which can make up o
he absence o a "popula ac ion" on En i onmen .
The di icul hing, o cou se, will be o p o e in
cou he exis ence o an e ec i e and economically
aluable damage because o he adminis a i e
ac ion, abo e all when ha damage does no a ec
hi d pa ies‘ goods. Le ´s imagine ha he Town-
hall collabo a ing in he Was e In eg a ed Sys em
ca elessly anspo s he was e o he managemen
loo . The ci izens, he p i a e owne s o goods,
di ec ly a ec ed by he was e could eac . I would
be s ill mo e di icul o hose people who decla e a
hypo he ic ha m o hei igh o a heal hy en i on-
men (sec ion 45 o Spanish Cons i u ion).
Rega ding he managemen ag eemen s on Was e
and Packaging signed exclusi ely be ween he p i-
a e, we mus conclude, con a io sensu, ha hey
a e con ac s submi ed o he p i a e Law, amed
inside he eedom o ag ee ecognised o ci izens
and sa egua ded by Spanish Ci il Code da ing om
1888 (sec ion 1255), wi h he bounda ies o he
mo al, o he public o de and he Law. Anyway,
he legal ela ionships buil up be ween he compa-
nies signing ag eemen s o in eg a ed managemen
on was e o packaging, a e no indi e en o he
adminis a ion, which will ha e o gi e he au ho i-
sa ions o ecei e communica ions and epo s om
he p i a e. This way, hese ac i i ies a e included
wi hin he policy o Adminis a ion, also known as
o de ing ac i i y o he p i a e beha iou s (San-
ama ía Pas o , 1988).
The judicial e iew o hese ag eemen s, di e s in
espec o he pac s celeb a ed wi h he Adminis a-
ions, as i will now depends on he ype o he
ag eemen ca ied ou be ween he p i a e and he
egula ions applied o hese, o appeal o no o he
T ibunals. As he SIG coun s wi h an adminis a i e
con ol ( he au ho isa ion), i is logical o hink ha
we a e be o e ue ci il con ac s (lex in e pa es),
he e o e, c ea o s o au hen ic legal obliga ions o
he o he pa s, which can be aken o adminis a i e
cou s. The igh o appeal does no exclusi ely be-
long o he signing pa s o he ag eemen , bu also (in
he ield o ex acon ac ual ci il esponsibili y) o
hose people who we e damaged by he con ac ual
b each. One o he di e ences be ween he adminis-
a i e and he ci il ex acon ac ual esponsibili y
es s on he ac ha , in he second ype o esponsi-
bili y, he hi d pe son has o p o e he exis ence o