论《涉外民事关系法律适用法》中最密切联系原则的司法适用

Judicial Application of the Closest Connection Doctrine of Law in the Application of Law for Foreign-Related Civil Relations

《涉外民事关系法律适用法》中有五处提及了"最密切联系的法律"。一般认为,该法中的"最密切联系的法律"可以在无法确定某一涉外民事关系的准据法时起到补遗的作用。中国在先前的立法中也已经有五部法律提及最密切联系原则,且均在有关涉外合同的准据法中出现。《涉外民事关系法律适用法》颁布三年以来,其中"最密切联系的法律"使用频率较高,且主要涉及到合同领域的准据法适用。但是,在司法适用最密切联系原则时也存在一些问题,如何运用特征性履行说的方法以及如何综合考虑一个案件的连结点是其中关键。除此之外,法院还应当考虑如何处理该法与其他法律之间关于最密切联系原则的规定以及如何处理该法最密切联系原则与国际民商事条约适用的问题。

The Application of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relations has indicated ＂the law of closest connection＂ for five times. Generally speaking, the closest connection doctrine plays a subsidiary role when judges cannot decide the applicable law. China has also mentioned ＂the law of closest connection＂ five times in previous legislation, especially in the applicable law of foreign-re- lated contract. For the three years after the Application of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relations come into force, judges invoke ＂the law of closest connection＂ frequently when dealing with the for- eign-related contract cases. However, some problems remain in the application of ＂the law of closest connection＂, especially how to utilize the doctrine of Characteristic Performance and how to consider the point of contact from a comprehensive perspective. Besides, judges has also faced the problem that how to deal with the relationship between the Application of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relations and other domestic laws and international civil and commercial treaties.