Concordat system in secular French Republic. The problem of the constitutionality of the model of relations between churches and state assumed in departments of: Haut-Rhine, Bas-Rhine and Moselle

France is the only European country in which the Constitution explicitly underlines the rule of the secular state. It is then difficult to understand why in 3 French departments (i.e. Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, Moselle) the relations between state and churches are regulated in the law which introduces into force the stipulations of Napoleon’s Concordat from 1801. In these departments the state officially recognizes 4 confessions and even grants them some privileges. In Alsace religious science is taught in public schools, Faculty of Theology of the University of Strasbourg issues diplomas recognized by the state and remuneration of priests is paid from state’s budget. Thus, it is should be determined, whether the existence of the specific „concordat regime” in 3 eastern departments is reconcilable with the constitutional rules such as: equality before the law and the rule of secular state. Until 2010 this problem could not have been examined by French constitutional court (because of the lack of the a posteriori control of the constitutionality of the law in French legal system at that time). Unfortunately, it must be stated, that the decisions of the Constitutional Council that were made after 2010 did not convincingly clarify doubts concerning the constitutionality of the model of church-state relations in 3 French eastern departments.

The constitutional principle of equality before the law  under the act on provision of business information

Article describes the constitutional principle of equal rights and equality before the law in relation to the legal regulation adopted by the Law on access to economic and business data exchange. The solutions are normative problem of the investigation and recording of claims in relation to natural and legal persons shall be indicated on the regularization inequality within the same category of entities that are creditors. The author of the example of regulating the conduct of debtors’ register shows the legal unreasonable preference to legal persons and natural persons conducting economic activity relative to individuals not conducting business. The legislature preferential treatment by creditors operating freely in business, who claims to be registered do not need to obtain an enforcement order confirming the existence and enforceability of the debt. Meanwhile, individuals are treated differently in the settlement of their right to demonstrate in the same register their claims. This regulation is unconstitutional solution, because it is inconsistent with the constitutional principle of equal rights.

Limitation of the Compensation Moderating in Relations Between Natural Persons (Art. 440 of the Civil Code) from the Point of View of the Principle of Equality

The measure of compensation regulated by Article 440 of the Civil Code is a limitation of the principle of full compensation. This provision implies the possibility to limit the obligation to compensate for the damage if the principles of social co-existence require it. However, the application of Article 440 of the Civil Code is only possible in relations between natural persons. The provision therefore omits legal persons and “crippled” legal persons. This restriction raises questions from the point of view of the constitutional principle of equality before the law. The purpose of this article is to analyse the compatibility with the principle of equality before the law of the limitation of the mitigation of damages to relations between natural persons, to the exclusion of other private law subjects. The considerations in the article lead to the conclusion that the restriction of mitigation to relations between natural persons is unconstitutional.