General Principles

En el Boletín Oficial de Estado número 272, del 9 de noviembre de 2017, se publicó la  Ley de Contratos del Sector Público, entrando en vigor el pasado día 9 de marzo. Desde un primer momento, la configuración del contrato menor en la nueva Ley ha despertado un gran interés y preocupación, no solo entre los operadores jurídicos, sino también entre las propias empresas y profesionales que operan en el mercado. A pesar su corta vida, muchos son los interrogantes y dudas que ha generado el nuevo texto legal, proliferando opiniones doctrinales e informes de órganos consultivos en la materia con distinto criterio interpretativo, lo que ha provocado un elevado grado de inseguridad jurídica en el momento de aplicar la norma. Este trabajo pretende efectuar un estudio detallado de la figura del contrato menor y de su actual regulación normativa, analizando, desde un punto de vista práctico, las consecuencias que puede tener la nueva regulación en el ámbito de la Administración Pública. Por último, se exponen una serie de argumentos  en defensa del contrato menor que conducen a la conclusión de que una correcta utilización del mismo puede resultar de gran utilidad en el ámbito de la contratación pública local.

In the Official State Gazette number 272, of November 9, 2017, the Public Sector Contracts Law was published, entering into force on March 9. From the outset, the configuration of the minor contract in the new Law has aroused great interest and concern, not only among legal operators, but also among the companies themselves and professionals operating in the market. Despite its short life, there are many questions and doubts that the new legal text has generated, proliferating doctrinal opinions and reports from advisory bodies on the subject with different interpretive criteria, which has caused a high degree of legal uncertainty at the time of applying the rule. This paper intends to carry out a detailed study of the minor contract figure and its current regulatory regulation, analyzing, from a practical point of view, the consequences that the new regulation may have in the field of Public Administration. Finally, a series of arguments are presented in defense of the minor contract that lead to the conclusion that a correct use of it can be very useful in the field of local public procurement.

The European Union has evolved from a purely economic organisation to a multi-faceted entity with political, social and human rights dimensions. This has created an environment in which the concept of solidarity is gaining a more substantial role in shaping the EU legal order. This book provides both a retrospective assessment and an outlook on the future possibilities of solidarity’s practical and theoretical meaning and legal enforcement in the ever-changing Union.

Solidarity in EU Law examines the less explored topics of the European solidarity debate, such as the practical enforceability of solidaristic obligations in EU law and non-EU investment into the economic services of general interest via ‘golden shares’, at the same time contributing to the ongoing debates on solidarity in the context of European financial crisis and immigration, asylum and border checks. The expert editors bring these fields together to create a cohesive analysis of the ways in which solidarity is becoming a principle of EU constitutional law rather than merely a philosophical or political concept.

Unique and insightful, this book is ideal reading for European law academics and research students. Its exploration of the current laws on solidarity regarding asylum and human rights would also benefit advisors in non-governmental organisations, as well as legal advice professionals working with EU citizens.