SELLER´S FUNDAMENTAL BREACH AS A BASIS FOR AVOIDANCE OF THE CONTRACT ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS

Izpolnitev obveznosti skladno z dogovorom v mednarodni prodajni pogodbi oziroma določbami Dunajske konvencije igra ključno vlogo pri vsakodnevnem nemotenem poslovanju gospodarskih subjektov. Mnogokrat pa se v praksi zgodi, da pride do kršitev obveznosti s prodajalčeve strani. Kršitve so takšne narave, da jih opredelimo kot bistvene ali pa kot nebistvene. V vsakem primeru posebej je potrebno presoditi težo same kršitve. Razlikovanje med bistvenimi in nebistvenimi kršitvami je temeljnega pomena za uveljavljanje sankcij, ki jih ima na voljo kupec. Le takrat, ko so izpolnjeni elementi bistvene kršitve, sme kupec podati izjavo o odstopu od pogodbe. Kljub temu pa se v praksi lahko zgodi, da kupec izgubi pravico do razveze, če izjave ne poda pravočasno in če prodajalec ne podlagi same izjave ne more sklepati, da kupec zahteva razdor pogodbe. Najpomembnejši učinek razveze je restitucija, po kateri mora vsaka stran drugi vrniti tisto, kar je dala. Če kupec uspe razvezati pogodbo, se na podlagi tega šteje, da sta stranki prosti vseh obveznosti. Na podlagi razdora pogodbe tako pridemo do začetnega stanja, tj. kot da pogodba nikoli ni bila sklenjena. Čeprav je v določenem konkretnem primeru podana bistvena kršitev in ima kupec pravico do razveze, je možno, da pogodba ostane v veljavi oziroma da kupec izgubi razvezno upravičenje. To se zgodi v primeru poslabšanja ali uničenja blaga kot posledica ravnanj kupca, razen če kupec zadosti eni izmed izjem, določenih z Dunajsko konvencijo.The fulfilment of obligations as agreed upon in the international sales contract or in the provisions of Vienna convention plays an important role in everyday traders’ business. However, the breach of contract obligations in practice occurs very often. Therefore is important to classify the violations as fundamental and non-fundamental. In each case it is necessary to assess the gravity of the breach itself. The distinction between fundamental and non-fundamental breach is of crucial importance for the enforcement of the remedies available to the buyer. Only when the elements of fundamental breach are fulfilled, the buyer may declare the contract avoided. Nevertheless, the buyer loses his right to terminate the contract if the declaration of avoidance is not given timely and if the seller cannot (on the basis of notice of avoidance) assume that the buyer is no longer willing to stay in contractual relationship. The most important effect of the avoidance is restitution, according to which every party must return what has been given on the contractual basis. If the buyer gives the seller a proper notice of avoidance, both parties are released from their contractual obligations. Avoidance of the contract is consequently a remedy which turns the relationship into an initial state, i.e. the state as the contract was never concluded. Although in the certain case the breach is fundamental and the buyer is entitled to avoid the contract, there is still possibility for the contract to remain in force or to lose the right for avoidance. In case of deterioration or perishability of the goods following by buyer’s acts or omissions, he loses the right to avoid the contract, unless he satisfies one of the exemptions provided in Vienna Convention