Les droits subjectifs inclusifs en droits belge, français et américain Analyse à partir du droit aux choses communes (y compris la public trust doctrine), du droit à l’usage des voies publiques et du droit aux biens communaux

Abstract

The search for instruments to protect the environment has lead to the rediscovery of some ancient legal concepts, notably the res communes in the sense of article 714 of the Belgian and French Civil Code (Article 3.43 of the new Belgian Civil Code) and the public trust doctrine in United States law. The res communes are things which cannot be appropriated by anyone (such as water in rivers and seas, atmospheric air, nature and several components of nature), on which each therefore has a subjective right of use and enjoyment. This subjective right is protected, as are all subjective rights, by a cause of action (even independent of any tort). The fact that the right concerning res communes or the public trust benefit in principle everyone has interesting implications: it is not an exclusive subjective right, but an inclusive subjective right. The category of inclusive subjective rights is rather unknown and neglected in legal analysis. This contribution analyses this category, firstly identifying some inclusive subjective rights (next to the res communes and the public trust, it studies in the first place the rights to use public highways and more generally government property destined for public use (domaine public) and in the second place the collective rights of inhabitants of local communities to certain goods held by the incorporated community). It analyses then some of the general principles of their legal status, followed by an examination of their protection by legal action before the courts. Environmental protection - res communes - subjective rights - French law - Belgian law - Code Napoléon - inclusivity - inclusive subjective rights - exclusivity - public trust doctrine