The Need for Legal Regulation of Blockchain and Smart Contracts in the Shipping Industry

The paper analyzes the potential impact of blockchain technology and smart contracts on the shipping industry. As the shipping industry represents a complex system of various actions that have to be controlled and registered, blockchain technology could serve as a tool to allow the streamlining of numerous processes, whilst at the same time taking the human factor out of multiple elements where trust between involved parties is an issue. The authors therefore first present how blockchain technology works and what smart contracts are, in order to give an  insight into their applicability in the shipping sector. After a general overview of the technological and legal characteristics of blockchain technology and smart contracts, the authors present examples of relevant subjects, relations, and contracts in the shipping industry. Based on the charter party, a key contract in the shipping industry, the authors present the existing problems which could potentially be solved using blockchain technology. Besides the benefits of blockchain technologies, the authors furthermore point out the existing deficiencies that still make blockchain technology hard to apply in legal relations within the shipping industry. Based on these insights, the authors highlight the current developments in this area and present the existing and expected regulatory reforms of blockchain solutions and smart contracts within the European Union

Organizational and Legal Aspects of International Hydrographic Activity

Hydrographic activity has a strong international character. Products of hydrographic organizations are used for different purposes in the maritime industry, which is international in its very nature. That is the reason why it has been necessary on the international level to develop legislation that would give the industry an international character and frame. International conventions that regulate hydrographic activity are the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization. National regulations have great significance for the development of hydrographic activities. Although they are part of national law, such regulations indicate acceptance of the standards of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and compatibility of products of national hydrographic organizations with accepted international standards. This paper analyses the international conventions which regulate hydrographic activity. It provides an overview of national legislation of important legal systems and Republic of Croatia concerning hydrographic activity. Changes to the Convention on International Hydrographic Organization are proposed

SPECIAL FEATURES OF PATERNITY PROCEEDINGS BEFORE FIRST-INSTANCE COURTS

Ovaj je rad plod istraživanja provedenog na temelju vjerodostojnog uzorka prvostupanjskih paternitetskih parnica. Prvi problem koji se istražuje je praktična uloga izvođenja dokaza medicinskim vještačenjem DNK metodom u praksi. Neprijeporno dominantnu snagu dokaza medicinskim vještačenjem DNK metodom promatra se u svjetlu učestalosti izvođenja tog dokaza u usporedbi s izvođenjem drugih dokaza. Drugi problem koji se istražuje je stvarna razina opterećenosti pravosudnog aparata paternitetskim stvarima. Utvrđuju se i objašnjavaju osobitost prvostupanjskih postupaka u paternitetskim parnicama analiziranjem iz uzorka dobivenih podataka o brojnosti i trajanju tih parnica te vrstama sudskih odluka. U sadržaju rada se, slijedom pojedinih točaka, uvodno navode problemi kojima se istraživanje bavi i formuliraju teze istraživanja, objašnjava formiranje vjerodostojnog uzorka i metodologija istraživanja, uz sažeto iznošenje pravnoregulacijskog okvira paternitetskih postupaka te se analiziraju iz uzorka prikupljeni podatci radi dokazivanja uvodno formuliranih teza rada.This paper is the result of a research conducted on an authentic sample of first-instance paternity proceedings. The first problem it deals with is the practical role of DNA-paternity tests as irrefutable evidence presented to first-instance courts in paternity proceedings. The latter raises the question if the need for providing any other evidence besides DNA-paternity tests still exists. The second problem poses the engagement level of first-instance courts in these proceedings, taking into account indicative data collected from the authentic sample of first-instance paternity proceedings, such as the total number and duration of the proceedings at the first-instance, as well as types of judicial decisions brought by first-instance courts in these proceedings. With this in mind four research theses are explained, as well as the formation of the authentic sample and research methodology, followed by a brief presentation of regulations on paternity issues and the analysis of the data collected from the authentic sample, in order to validate the research theses

Financial strength related fines and civil mechanisms of legal protection against cartels in the energy sector

Kartelno pravo jedan je od ključnih elemenata zaštite tržišnog natjecanja na razini EU. Visoke novčane kazne koje imaju značajne financijske posljedice na uključena poduzeća pokazala su se kao djelotvorno sredstvo u borbi protiv kartela. Međutim, pravo kartela na razini EU ima svrhu sprječavanja kartela i sankcioniranja sudionika. Stoga ovim putem nije moguće naknaditi štetu svim subjektima koji su bili žrtve djelovanja kartela. Sud Europske Unije je stoga u više odluka izrazio stajalište da privatnim subjektima mora stajati na raspolaganju mogućnost potraživanja naknade štete. Nedavni prijedlozi Komisije u tom smjeru predstavljaju revoluciju u području privatnog prava u Europi; uvođenjem skupnih tužbi te izmjenama tereta dokazivanja po prvi put bi se ujednačeno u EU trebala dati mogućnost potraživanja naknade štete od kartela. Ovaj članak kritički predstavlja novine koje bi trebale uslijediti implementacijom prijedloga Komisije te tematizira međudjelovanje financijskih sankcija koje izriče komisija i novina u sferi privatnog prava. Pri tome poseban naglasak leži na utjecaju mogućih izmjena u sferi privatnog prava na ekonomsku moć članova kartela. Tako se promatra ustaljeni postupak izricanja financijskih sankcija i njegova povezanost s bilancom poduzeća u odnosu s nepredvidljivim sustavom naknada šteta u sferi privatnog prava. U tom se kontekstu posebno preispituje financijski interes članova kartela da i nakon uvođenja ovih izmjena u pravni sustav sudjeluju u postupku pred komisijom kao krunski svjedok.Cartel law is one of the key elements for the protection of market competition at EU level. Hefty fines which have significant financial consequences on included companies have proved to be effective means in the battle against cartels. However, the law on cartels at EU level has as its aim to deter cartels and sanction the participants. Therefore, in this way, it is not possible to rectify the damage done to all subjects who have fallen victim to cartel acitvity. The Court of the European Union has therefore in several judgements expressed the opinion that private individuals must have at their disposal the possibility of seeking damages. The recent suggestions by the Commission in this direction represent a revolution in private law in Europe. Therefore introducing expensive lawsuits and amending the burden of proof for the first time should equally in the EU provide the possibility of seeking damages from cartels This paper critically presents novelties which should result from the implementation of the suggestions by the Commission. It also thematises the mutual activity of financial sanctions expressed by the Commission and novelties in the area of private law. Furthermore, particular emphasis lies in the influence of possible amendments in the area of private law on the economic power of cartel members. Continual procedure of expressing financial sanction is regarded in this way as is the connection with the company’sbalance related to the unpredictable system of damages in private law. In this context, the financial interests of cartel members is in particular examined and that, after introducing these amendments in the legal system, they participate in the procedure before the Commission as crown witnesses

The Legal Regulation of Short-Term Consumer Loans and Credits Granted through Digital Platforms

Ovaj članak obrađuje problematiku prekograničnog izdavanja kratkoročnih kredita s visokom kamatnom stopom (tzv. short-term high-cost loan) unutar Europske unije. Dok mnoge države, poput Republike Hrvatske ograničavaju najviše dopuštene kamatne stope, posebno u pogledu na potrošačko kreditiranje, sloboda kretanja usluga omogućava i stranim pružateljima financijskih usluga da djeluju na domaćem tržištu. Pritom nerijetko dolazi do toga da neki strani pružatelji financijskih usluga ne poštuju domaća ograničenja, primjerice u pogledu na najvišu kamatnu stopu. Ovaj članak predstavlja postojeći pravni okvir zaštite potrošača, ograničenja kamatnih stopa i jednakosti činidbi u Republici Hrvatskoj te planirane reforme europskoga prava potrošačkog kreditiranja. Analizom postojećih mehanizama protupravnoga kreditiranja potrošača u Hrvatskoj, autori upozoravaju na bitne nedorečenosti i očekivane probleme povezane s Prijedlogom Direktive o potrošačkim kreditima 2021/0171/COD na razini Europske unije.This article discusses the issue of cross-border issuance of short-term high-cost loans within the European Union. While many countries, such as Croatia, limit the maximum allowable interest rates, particularly for consumer lending, the freedom of movement of services allows foreign financial service providers to operate in the domestic market. This often results in some foreign financial service providers not respecting local limitations, such as the maximum interest rate. This article presents the existing legal framework for consumer protection, interest rate restrictions, and equality of transactions in Croatia, as well as the planned reforms of European consumer credit law. Through an analysis of the existing practices for unlawful consumer lending in Croatia, the authors warn of significant ambiguities and expected problems in the reform of the Consumer Credit Directive 2021/0171/COD at the European Union level