Case C‑632/21

JF
and
NS

v

Diamond Resorts Europe Limited (Sucursal en España), and Others

(Request for a preliminary ruling
from the Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción – Granadilla de Abona)

Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 14 September 2023

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 – Law applicable to contractual obligations – Scope – Timeshare contracts – Legal proceedings seeking a declaration that those contracts are void – United Kingdom nationals – Choice of applicable law – Article 3 – Freedom of choice – Article 4(1)(b) and (c) – Applicable law in the absence of a choice made by the parties – Article 6 – Consumer contracts – Limits)

1. Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Jurisdiction of the Court – Limits – Request for the interpretation of the Convention of the law applicable to contractual obligations – Protocol on the interpretation of the Convention by the Court of Justice – National courts entitled to request the Court of Justice to give preliminary rulings – Spanish regional court ruling at first instance – Not included – Clear lack of jurisdiction of the Court

   (Art. 267 TFEU; Protocol of 19 December 1988, Art. 2(a) and (b); Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Art. 53(2))

   (see paragraphs 38-41)

2. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Law applicable to contractual obligations – Regulation No 593/2008 – Scope – Foreign element – Dispute before a court of a Member State regarding contracts involving two nationals of the same State – Contracts to be performed in various European countries – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 593/2008, Art. 1)

   (see paragraphs 50-53, 56, operative part 1)

3. Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Law applicable to contractual obligations – Regulation No 593/2008 – Consumer contracts – Club-points-based timeshare contract – Possibility of choosing the law applicable to a consumer contract fulfilling the requirements laid down in Article 6(1) of that regulation – Choice may not have the effect of depriving the consumer of the protection afforded by the provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement by virtue of the law applicable in the absence of choice – Law chosen by the parties identical to that applicable in the absence of choice – Mandatory and exhaustive nature of Article 6(2) – Derogation from that provision for the benefit of legislation allegedly more favourable to the consumer – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 593/2008, recital 6 and Art. 6(1) and (2))

   (see paragraphs 66, 71, 73-77, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.