Constitutionality of International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund ConventionConstitucionalidad del Convenio Fondo Internacional de Indemnización por Hidrocarburos

*190014540007CO* Res. No. 2019002904 CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE. San José, at nine hours thirty minutes on the twentieth of February of two thousand nineteen.

Mandatory legislative consultation of constitutionality filed by the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly, regarding the project to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file number 21.118.

Considering:

1.- The consultation, filed in compliance with the provisions of subsection a) of Article 96 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, was received at the Secretariat of the Chamber at ten hours forty minutes on the thirtieth of January of 2019, with a certified copy of the legislative file. The Presidency of the Chamber acknowledged receipt of the consultation by resolution issued at eleven hours thirty-two minutes on the same day. The term to respond to it expires on February 28 of the current year.

2.- In the proceeding, the formalities established by law were complied with.

Drafted by Magistrate Esquivel Rodríguez; and,

Considering:

I.- Preliminarily.- The first step, for the purposes of responding to the consultation, is to verify the procedures followed in this case, in accordance with Article 98 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, which provides that the consultation must be made after the bill is approved in the first debate and before its final approval, and that, in responding to it, the Chamber shall rule on any aspects or reasons it deems relevant from a constitutional standpoint, but binding only with regard to procedural matters. For the foregoing purposes and due to the importance of the matter at hand, a chronological summary of the bill will be provided in the following considerando.

II.- The processing of file number 21.118 in the Legislative Assembly.- The project to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118, has followed the chronological order below:

• a)The project, which originates from the Executive Branch, was presented to the Secretariat of the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly, at eleven hours forty-five minutes on November 16, 2018 (folios 1 and following of the legislative file); b) On November 16 of last year, the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, was referred by order of the President of the Legislative Assembly to the Special Commission responsible for reviewing and issuing reports on bill projects required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (20.992). That same day, the original project was transferred to the Archive Department for publication and processing, and a faithful copy was sent to the Department of Parliamentary Services (folio 32); c) On November 21, 2018, bill No. 21.118 was transferred to the Archive Department; likewise, a faithful copy was delivered to the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services, in accordance with Article 118 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly. The aforementioned project was also submitted for publication in the Official Gazette La Gaceta, in accordance with Article 117 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (folio 73 and 74); d) On November 26, 2018, the Archive Department delivered to the Commission studying the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, with its publication in Supplement 198 published in La Gaceta No. 217 of November 22, 2018 (folio 75); e) By Executive Decree No. 41453-MP, the Executive Branch convened the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, for extraordinary sessions (folios 76-81); f) By session No. 05 of December 10, 2018, the Special Commission responsible for reviewing and issuing reports on bill projects required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development agreed not to send legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 to a subcommittee and to reserve them for the Committee of the Whole (folios 82-86); g) By session No. 06 of December 12, 2018, the Special Commission responsible for reviewing and issuing reports on bill projects required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reviewed and approved the motion to receive the Vice Minister of Environment, Haydee Rodríguez, in a hearing to address legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 (folios 88-96); h) By session No. 07 of December 17, 2018, the Special Commission responsible for reviewing and issuing reports on bill projects required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development received the Vice Minister of Water and Seas and the Vice Minister of Energy, both from MINAET, and subsequently, unanimously approved the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", No. 21.118 (folios 111-122); i) The Unanimous Affirmative Opinion on the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", from legislative file No. 21.118, was presented to the Secretariat of the Board of Directors on January 9, 2019 (folio 123-165); j) By ordinary session No. 119 of January 14, 2019, the Legislative Plenary considered a motion to postpone, which was approved, in order to subsequently begin the discussion on the merits, in the process of the First Debate of the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, in which, after the floor was used by the deputies, it was put to a vote and approved with all forty-four deputies present voting in favor of the project (folios 166-178); k) On January 16, 2019, the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, was delivered to the Permanent Special Drafting Commission for its consideration (folio 179-217 and 222-266); l) On January 17, 2019, the legal report from the Department of Technical Services was presented under official letter number AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019, related to the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, to the Secretariat of the Board of Directors (folios 268-280); m) During the processing of the legislative file, on January 21, 2019, the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services submitted the report for the Permanent Special Drafting Commission, AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 of January 16, 2019 (folios 218-221).
• n)On January 24, 2019, the Permanent Special Drafting Commission remitted to the Secretariat of the Board of Directors the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, for its respective legislative process to continue (folio 267).

III.- The procedure in the specific case.- In accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the law governing this Jurisdiction, this Court analyzed the processing of the bill to approve and accede to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118. Indeed, the bill was reviewed by the Legislative Plenary as required; being an international convention, it could not be delegated to a Legislative Commission with Full Legislative Authority, as established in Article 124, paragraph 3, of the Political Constitution in relation to Article 121, paragraph 4, ibidem. Prior to that, the bill was published in Supplement No. 198 to La Gaceta No. 217 of November 22, 2018, which can be verified at the following web address: https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/pub/2018/11/22/ALCA198_22_11_2018.pdf. Due to the content of the Convention, as part of the accession process being carried out, the President of the Legislative Assembly assigned the processing and study of the bill to approve and accede to the Special Commission responsible for reviewing and issuing reports on bill projects required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (20.992). It is noted from the project's processing that it received a unanimous affirmative opinion from the Special Commission and was subsequently voted on in the Plenary before receiving the studies from Technical Services. In accordance with Article 122 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly, two legal reports prepared by the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services were provided (exceeding the five-day period established by said rule): AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 of January 16, 2019, and AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019 of January 17, 2019; this deadline is considered directory, and therefore, there is no substantial defect in the legislative procedure. As an international convention, due to the normative hierarchy it enjoys, established in Article 7 of the Constitution, it modifies all laws that oppose it, and no other implications are observed.

IV.- Based on the foregoing, it is possible to infer that the approval of the bill under consultation has respected all the procedural provisions of the Political Constitution (Articles 7, 121 subsection 4), 124, 140 subsections 5) and 10) and the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (Articles 85 subsections c) and d), 113, 117, 118, 119, 122, 129, 132, 134 and 144). In this regard, the bill was submitted for its legislative processing by the Executive Branch, exercising its right of initiative, provided for in Article 140, subsection 5), of the Political Constitution, for the purpose of integrating the country into an international agreement that allows it to respond, with funds, to oil spills caused by cargo vessels. Note, in this regard, that a reading of Article 140, subsections 10) and 12) of the Political Constitution reveals that the signing of international treaties and the conduct of international relations is an attribute of the Executive Branch. In this case, with the aim of promoting our country's accession to the OECD, the Second Vice President of the Republic, Marvin Rodríguez Cordero, Mr. Rodolfo Méndez Mata, as Minister of Public Works and Transportation, as well as Rolando Castro Córdoba, as the Acting Minister of Environment and Energy, signed the initiative, and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, presented the treaty to the Legislative Assembly for its approval. Similarly, by Executive Decree No. 41453-MP, the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, promoted the approval of the convention in extraordinary sessions as part of the legislative procedure stage corresponding to the Executive Branch. Under this order of considerations, no defect is observed regarding the processing and approval of the accession to the aforementioned agreement.

V.- Observations on the merits of the project. The convention at hand forms part of international cooperation in the field of maritime navigation, especially in the establishment of technical regulations that aid maritime safety, as well as the establishment of protections, as set forth in Article 1 of the Convention creating the International Maritime Organization (IMO), along with the prevention and containment of sea pollution caused by ships, and to address administrative and legal matters related to the objectives stated in the aforementioned article. In this regard, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992, (processed under legislative file No. 21.119), is accompanied by the Convention at hand (legislative file 21.118), on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage, 1992. In this sense, the purpose of the latter treaty is to develop an entire legal and economic mechanism to establish a fund that allows for providing a financial response to accidental spills from oil tankers that transit our territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone. Article 2 establishes that the fund's purpose is to indemnify (indemnizar) the victims of damage caused by pollution to the extent that the protection established by the Civil Liability Convention, 1992, proves insufficient, or even, to achieve the related objectives stipulated in the Convention. The treaty can defray the cost of repair and restoration operations, cover material and economic losses of the fishing sector, among others. As can be observed, the convention has objectives that would clearly be in tune with Articles 46 and 50 of the Political Constitution, since it would help to address the social and economic consequences that would arise from spills from oil tankers, and also the repair and restoration of the environment, should such unfortunate accidents occur in our territorial waters.

VI.- Conclusion. In the opinion of this Constitutional Chamber, the bill to approve the accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118, has not infringed upon any of the legislative procedures pertinent to the approval of international treaties, nor upon the Law of the Constitution (values, principles, and norms).

VII.- Note by Magistrate Rueda Leal.- Given that both projects are currently in the legislative pipeline, I underscore that the approval of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (legislative file no. 21.119) must be prior to, or at least simultaneous with, the approval of the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (legislative file no. 21.118), given that the former serves as the basis for the latter.

Por tanto:

The consultation filed is responded to, in the sense that no essential defects of constitutionality are observed in the legislative process of the bill to approve the accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118, and regarding the merits, it does not infringe upon the Law of the Constitution. Magistrate Rueda Leal makes a note. Let this ruling be communicated to the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly.

Fernando Castillo V. President Paul Rueda L.

Nancy Hernández L.

Jorge Araya G.

Marta Eugenia Esquivel R.

Alejandro Delgado F.

Mauricio Chacón J.

Documento Firmado Digitalmente -- Código verificador -- *H143MWGRKKK061* 05 of December 10, 2018, the Special Commission that will be in charge of hearing and issuing an opinion on the required draft Laws, to achieve the adhesion of Costa Rica to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, agrees not to send legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 to a subcommission and to reserve it for the full Commission (folios 82-86); g) By session No. 06 of December 12, 2018, the Special Commission that will be in charge of hearing and issuing an opinion on the required draft Laws, to achieve the adhesion of Costa Rica to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, hears and approves the motion to receive in audience the Vice-Minister of Environment, Haydee Rodríguez, so that she may refer to legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 (folios 88-96); h) By session No. 07 of December 17, 2018, the Special Commission that will be in charge of hearing and issuing an opinion on the required draft Laws, to achieve the adhesion of Costa Rica to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, received the Vice-Minister of Water and Seas and the Vice-Minister of Energy, both from MINAET, and subsequently, they unanimously approve the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", No. 21.118 (folios 111-122); i) The Unanimous Affirmative Opinion of the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", of legislative file No. 21.118, was presented to the Secretariat of the Directorate on January 9, 2019 (folio 123-165); j) By ordinary session No. 119 of January 14, 2019, the legislative plenary hears a motion for a postponement order, which was approved, to subsequently begin the discussion on the merits, in the First Debate process of the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, in which after the use of the floor by the deputies, it was put to a vote, it was approved with the forty-four deputies present, all voting in favor of the draft (folios 166-178); k) On January 16, 2019, the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, is delivered to the Special Permanent Commission on Drafting for its review (folio 179-217 and 222-266); l) On January 17, 2019, the legal report of the Department of Technical Services is presented under official number AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019, related to the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, to the Secretariat of the Directorate (folios 268-280); m) During the processing of the legislative file, on January 21, 2019, the Department of Studies, References and Technical Services presents the report for the Special Permanent Commission on Drafting AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 of January 16, 2019 (folios 218-221).

• n)On January 24, 2019, the Special Permanent Commission on Drafting remits to the Secretariat of the Directorate the draft law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, so that it may continue its respective legislative process (folio 267).

III.- The procedure in the specific case.- In accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the law that governs this Jurisdiction, this Tribunal analyzed the processing of the draft Law for the approval and adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", which is processed in legislative file number 21.118. Indeed, the draft law was heard by the Legislative Plenary as required; since it is an international convention, it could not be delegated to a Legislative Commission with Full Legislative Power as established in Article 124, paragraph 3, of the Political Constitution in relation to Article 121, paragraph 4, ibid. Prior to that, the draft Law was published in Supplement No. 198 of La Gaceta No. 217 of November 22, 2018, which can be verified at the following web address: https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/pub/2018/11/22/ALCA198_22_11_2018.pdf. Due to the content of the Convention, as part of the adhesion process being carried out, the President of the Legislative Assembly entrusted the processing and study of the draft law for approval and adhesion to the Special Commission that will be in charge of hearing and issuing an opinion on the required draft Laws, to achieve the adhesion of Costa Rica to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (20.992). It is highlighted from the processing that the draft was subjected to, that it was affirmatively approved by unanimity of the Special Commission and, subsequently, voted on in the plenary before receiving the studies from Technical Services. In accordance with Article 122 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly, two legal reports prepared by the Department of Studies, References and Technical Services AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 of January 16, 2019, and AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019 of January 17, 2019, were provided (exceeding the five days established by that rule), a deadline considered directory, for which reason, there is no substantial defect in the legislative procedure. As it is an international convention, due to its normative hierarchy, established in Article 7 of the Constitution, it modifies all laws that oppose it, nor are other implications observed.

IV.- From the foregoing, it is possible to infer that the approval of the draft Law under consultation has respected all the procedural provisions that the Political Constitution (Articles 7, 121 subsection 4), 124, 140 subsection 5) and 10) and the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (Articles 85 subsection c) and d), 113, 117, 118, 119, 122, 129, 132, 134 and 144). In this regard, the draft law was presented for its legislative processing by the Executive Branch, in exercise of its right of initiative, provided for in Article 140, subsection 5), of the Political Constitution for the purpose of inserting the country into an international agreement that allows it to respond with funds to oil spills caused by cargo ships. Note, on this point, that from a reading of Article 140, subsections 10) and 12) of the Political Constitution, it follows that the signing of international treaties and the direction of international relations is an attribution of the Executive Branch. In this case, for the purpose of promoting the adhesion of our country to the OECD, the second vice-president of the Republic, Marvin Rodríguez Cordero, Mr. Rodolfo Méndez Mata, as minister of Public Works and Transport, as well as Rolando Castro Córdoba, as the acting minister of Environment and Energy, signed the initiative and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort presented the treaty to the Legislative Assembly for its approval. Likewise, by Executive Decree No. 41453-MP, the president of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada and the minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, promote the approval of the convention in extraordinary sessions as part of the stage of the legislative procedure corresponding to the Executive Branch. Under such order of considerations, no defect is observed regarding the processing and approval of the adhesion to the aforementioned agreement.

V.- Observations regarding the merits of the draft. The convention at hand forms part of international cooperation in maritime navigation matters, especially in the establishment of technical regulations that aid maritime safety, as well as the establishment of protections, as set forth in Article 1 of the Convention creating the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the prevention and containment of pollution of the sea caused by ships, and addressing the administrative and legal issues related to the objectives stated in the mentioned article. In this regard, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992, (processed under legislative file No. 21.119), is accompanied by the Convention at hand (legislative file 21.118), on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for damage due to oil pollution, 1992. In this sense, this latter treaty aims to develop a comprehensive legal and economic mechanism to constitute a fund that allows for a financial response to accidental spills from oil tankers crossing our territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone. Article 2 establishes that the fund aims to indemnify victims of damage caused by pollution to the extent that the protection established by the Civil Liability Convention, 1992, proves insufficient, or even, to achieve the related objectives stipulated in the Convention. The treaty can cover the cost of repair and restoration operations, cover material and economic damages to the fishing sector, among others. As can be observed, the convention has objectives that clearly would be in line with Articles 46 and 50 of the Political Constitution, since it would help to confront the social and economic consequences that would derive from oil tanker spills, but also repair and restoration of the environment, should such unfortunate accidents occur in our territorial waters.

VI.- Conclusion. In the opinion of this Constitutional Chamber, the draft Law for the approval of the adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", which is processed in legislative file number 21.118, has not infringed any of the legislative procedures pertinent to the approval of international treaties, nor the Law of the Constitution (values, principles and norms).

VII.- Note by Magistrate Rueda Leal.- Given that both draft laws are currently in the legislative process, I emphasize that the approval of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (legislative file No. 21.119) must be prior to, or at least, simultaneous with the approval of the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (legislative file No. 21.118) since the former serves as the basis for the latter.

Por tanto:

The consultation formulated is answered, in the sense that no essential defects of constitutionality are observed in the legislative process of the draft Law for the approval of the adhesion to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", which is processed in legislative file number 21.118, and regarding the merits, it does not infringe the Law of the Constitution. Magistrate Rueda Leal adds a note.

Communicate this ruling to the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly.

Documento Firmado Digitalmente -- Código verificador -- *H143MWGRKKK061* Reception of matters from vulnerable groups: Supreme Court of Justice Building, San José, Catedral District, González Lahmann neighborhood, streets 19 and 21, avenues 8 and 6 Res. No. 2019002904 CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE. San José, at nine hours thirty minutes on the twentieth of February, two thousand nineteen.

Mandatory legislative consultation on constitutionality submitted by the Directorate of the Legislative Assembly, regarding the bill for the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file number 21.118.

**Whereas:** **1.-** The consultation, which is submitted in compliance with the provisions of subsection a) of Article 96 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, was received in the Chamber's Secretariat at ten hours forty minutes on January thirtieth, two thousand nineteen, with a certified copy of the legislative file. The Presidency of the Chamber accepted the consultation by resolution at eleven hours thirty-two minutes on the same day. The deadline to respond expires on February 28 of the current year.

**2.-** In the proceeding, the formalities established by law were fulfilled.

Drafted by Magistrate Esquivel Rodríguez; and, **Considering:** **I.- Preliminary.-** The first step, for the purpose of responding to the consultation, is to verify the procedures followed in this case, in accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, which stipulates that the consultation must be made after the bill is approved in the first debate and before its final approval, and that, when responding, the Chamber shall rule on any aspects or grounds it deems relevant from a constitutional standpoint, but it shall be binding only regarding the procedures. For the foregoing purposes and due to the importance of the matter at hand, the following considering clause will provide a chronological summary of the bill.

**II.- The processing of file number 21.118 in the Legislative Assembly.-** The bill for the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118, has followed the chronological order below:

• a)The bill, which is an initiative of the Executive Branch, was submitted to the Secretariat of the Directorate of the Legislative Assembly at eleven hours forty-five minutes on November 16, 2018 (folios 1 and subsequent of the legislative file); b) On November 16 of last year, the bill, which concerns the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, was referred by order of the President of the Legislative Assembly to the Special Commission tasked with reviewing and issuing opinions on draft Laws required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (20.992). That same day, the original bill was transferred to the Archive Department for publication and processing, and a faithful copy was sent to the Department of Parliamentary Services (folio 32); c) On November 21, 2018, Draft Law No. 21.118 was transferred to the Archive Department; likewise, a faithful copy was delivered to the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services, in accordance with Article 118 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly. Said bill was also submitted for publication in the Official Gazette La Gaceta, in accordance with Article 117 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (folios 73 and 74); d) On November 26, 2018, the Archive Department delivered to the Commission studying the bill, which concerns the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, along with its publication in Supplement 198 published in La Gaceta No. 217 of November 22, 2018 (folio 75); e) By Executive Decree No. 41453-MP, the Executive Branch convened the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, to extraordinary sessions (folios 76-81); f) By session No. 05 of December 10, 2018, the Special Commission tasked with reviewing and issuing opinions on draft Laws required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development agreed not to send legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 to a subcommittee and to reserve them for the full Commission (folios 82-86); g) By session No. 06 of December 12, 2018, the Special Commission tasked with reviewing and issuing opinions on draft Laws required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development examined and approved the motion to receive in a hearing Mrs. Haydee Rodríguez, Vice-Minister of Environment, so that she could address legislative files Nos. 21.118 and 21.119 (folios 88-96); h) By session No. 07 of December 17, 2018, the Special Commission tasked with reviewing and issuing opinions on draft Laws required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development received the Vice-Minister of Water and Seas and the Vice-Minister of Energy, both from MINAET, and subsequently, they unanimously approved the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", No. 21.118 (folios 111-122); i) The Unanimous Affirmative Report on the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", from legislative file No. 21.118, was submitted to the Directorate's Secretariat on January 9, 2019 (folios 123-165); j) By regular session No. 119 of January 14, 2019, the legislative plenary examined a motion to postpone, which was approved, in order to subsequently begin the discussion on the merits, during the First Debate processing of the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118. After the floor was given to the deputies, it was put to a vote and approved, with all forty-four deputies present voting in favor of the bill (folios 166-178); k) On January 16, 2019, the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, was delivered to the Special Permanent Drafting Commission for its review (folios 179-217 and 222-266); l) On January 17, 2019, the legal report from the Department of Technical Services, under official letter number AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019, concerning the bill related to the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", file No. 21.118, was submitted to the Directorate's Secretariat (folios 268-280); m) During the processing of the legislative file, on January 21, 2019, the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services submitted the report for the Special Permanent Drafting Commission AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019, dated January 16, 2019 (folios 218-221).
• n)On January 24, 2019, the Special Permanent Drafting Commission forwarded to the Directorate's Secretariat the bill concerning the approval of and accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", legislative file No. 21.118, so that it could continue its respective legislative process (folio 267).

**III.- The procedure in the specific case.-** In accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the law governing this Jurisdiction, this Court analyzed the processing of the bill for the Law approving and acceding to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", processed under legislative file number 21.118. Indeed, the bill was examined by the Legislative Plenary as required; because it concerns an international convention, it could not be delegated to a Legislative Commission with Full Legislative Authority, pursuant to Article 124, paragraph 3, of the Political Constitution in relation to Article 121, paragraph 4, ibid. Prior to that, the Draft Law was published in Supplement No. 198 of La Gaceta No. 217 of November 22, 2018, as verified at the following web address: https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/pub/2018/11/22/ALCA198_22_11_2018.pdf. Due to the content of the Convention, as it is part of the ongoing accession process, the President of the Legislative Assembly entrusted the processing and study of the bill for approval and accession to the Special Commission tasked with reviewing and issuing opinions on draft Laws required to achieve Costa Rica's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (20.992). It is noted from the processing of the bill that it was affirmed by a unanimous opinion of the Special Commission and subsequently voted on in the plenary before receiving the studies from Technical Services. In accordance with Article 122 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly, two legal reports prepared by the Department of Studies, References, and Technical Services were provided (exceeding the five-day period established by said regulation): AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 of January 16, 2019, and AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019 of January 17, 2019, a deadline deemed directory, which is why there is no substantial defect in the legislative procedure. Given that it concerns an international convention, due to its normative hierarchy established in Article 7 of the Constitution, it modifies all laws that conflict with it, and no other implications are observed.

**IV.-** Based on the foregoing, it is possible to infer that the approval of the Draft Law under consultation has respected all the procedural provisions of the Political Constitution (Articles 7, 121 subsection 4), 124, 140 subsections 5) and 10) and the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly (Articles 85 subsections c) and d), 113, 117, 118, 119, 122, 129, 132, 134, and 144). In this regard, the bill was submitted for legislative processing by the Executive Branch, exercising its right of initiative, provided for in Article 140, subsection 5), of the Political Constitution, with the aim of integrating the country into an international agreement that allows for a funded response to oil spills caused by cargo ships. It should be noted, in this regard, that a reading of Article 140, subsections 10) and 12) of the Political Constitution shows that the signing of international treaties and the direction of international relations is an attribution of the Executive Branch. In this case, with the aim of promoting our country's accession to the OECD, the Second Vice-President of the Republic, Marvin Rodríguez Cordero, Mr. Rodolfo Méndez Mata, as Minister of Public Works and Transport, and Rolando Castro Córdoba, as the acting Minister of Environment and Energy, signed the initiative, and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, presented the treaty to the Legislative Assembly for its approval. Likewise, by Executive Decree No.

41453-MP, the President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, are promoting the approval of the agreement in extraordinary sessions as part of the stage of the legislative procedure that corresponds to the Executive Branch. Under such an order of considerations, no defect is observed with regard to the processing and approval of the accession to the aforementioned agreement.

**V.- Observations regarding the substance of the project.** The agreement before us forms part of international cooperation in maritime navigation, especially in the establishment of technical regulations that aid maritime safety, as well as in the establishment of protections, as set forth in Article 1 of the Convention creating the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the prevention and containment of pollution of the sea caused by ships, and addressing administrative and legal matters related to the objectives set forth in the aforementioned article. In this sense, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (processed under legislative file No. 21.119), is accompanied by the Agreement before us (legislative file 21.118), on the constitution of an International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund, 1992. In this sense, this latter treaty aims to develop an entire legal and economic mechanism to constitute a fund that allows for a financial response to accidental spills from oil tankers that cross our territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone. Article 2 establishes that the fund aims to compensate victims of pollution damage to the extent that the protection established by the Civil Liability Convention, 1992, proves insufficient, or even to achieve the related objectives stipulated in the Convention. The treaty can defray the cost of repair and restoration operations, cover material and economic damages to the fishing sector, among others. As can be observed, the agreement has objectives that would clearly be in line with Articles 46 and 50 of the Political Constitution, since it would help to confront the social and economic consequences that would derive from oil tanker spills, but also the repair and restoration of the environment, should such regrettable accidents occur in our territorial waters.

**VI.- Conclusion.** In the opinion of this Constitutional Chamber, the bill for the approval of the accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", being processed in legislative file number 21.118, has not infringed any of the legislative procedures pertaining to the approval of international treaties, nor has it infringed the Law of the Constitution (values, principles, and norms).

**VII.- Note by Magistrate Rueda Leal.-** Given that both projects are currently in the legislative stream, I emphasize that the approval of the *International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992* (legislative file No. 21.119) must be prior to, or at least simultaneous with, the approval of the *International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992* (legislative file No. 21.118), given that the former serves as the basis for the latter.

**Therefore:** The consultation is answered in the sense that no essential defects of constitutionality are observed in the legislative procedure of the bill for the approval of the accession to the "International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992", being processed in legislative file number 21.118, and regarding its substance, it does not infringe the Law of the Constitution. Magistrate Rueda Leal adds a note.

Communicate this pronouncement to the Board of Directors of the Legislative Assembly.

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

*190014540007CO* Res. Nº 2019002904 SALA CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA. San José, a las nueve horas treinta minutos del veinte de febrero de dos mil diecinueve .

Consulta legislativa preceptiva de constitucionalidad formulada por el Directorio de la Asamblea Legislativa, sobre el proyecto de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente legislativo número 21.118.

Resultando:

1.- La consulta, que se formula en cumplimiento de lo que establece el inciso a) del artículo 96 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, fue recibida en la Secretaría de la Sala a las diez horas cuarenta minutos del treinta de enero de 2019, con una copia certificada del expediente legislativo. La Presidencia de la Sala tuvo por presentada la consulta mediante resolución de las once horas treinta y dos minutos del mismo día. El término para evacuarla vence el día 28 de febrero del año en curso.

2.- En el procedimiento se cumplió con las formalidades establecidas en la ley.

Redacta la Magistrada Esquivel Rodríguez; y,

Considerando:

I.- De previo.- Lo primero que procede, a los efectos de evacuar la consulta, es verificar los trámites seguidos en este caso, en concordancia con lo que señala el artículo 98 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, al disponer que la consulta deberá hacerse después de aprobado el proyecto en primer debate y antes de la aprobación definitiva y que, al evacuarla, la Sala dictaminará sobre cualesquiera aspectos o motivos que estime relevantes desde el punto de vista constitucional, pero vinculante sólo en lo que se refiere a los trámites. Para los efectos anteriores y por la importancia del asunto de que se trata, en el siguiente considerando se hará una síntesis cronológica del proyecto de ley.

II.- La tramitación del expediente número 21.118 en la Asamblea Legislativa.- El proyecto de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", que se tramita en el expediente legislativo número 21.118, ha seguido el siguiente orden cronológico:

• a)El proyecto, que es de iniciativa del Poder Ejecutivo, fue presentado a la Secretaría del Directorio de la Asamblea Legislativa, a las once horas cuarenta y cinco minutos del 16 de noviembre de 2018 (folios 1 y siguientes del expediente legislativo); b) El 16 de noviembre del año pasado el proyecto de ley, que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente legislativo No. 21.118, fue pasado por orden de la presidenta de la Asamblea Legislativa a la Comisión Especial que se encargará de conocer y dictaminar proyectos de Ley requeridos, para lograr la adhesión de Costa Rica a la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE) (20.992). Ese mismo día se traslada el proyecto original al Departamento de Archivo para su publicación y trámite y copia fiel al Departamento de Servicios Parlamentarios (folio 32); c) El 21 de noviembre de 2018, el proyecto de Ley No. 21.118 es trasladado al Departamento de Archivo, de igual manera se procedió a la entrega de una copia fiel al Departamento de Estudios, Referencias y Servicios Técnicos, de conformidad con el artículo 118 del Reglamento de la Asamblea Legislativa. También se remitió el mencionado proyecto para su publicación en el Diario Oficial La Gaceta de conformidad con el artículo 117 del Reglamento de la Asamblea Legislativa (folio 73 y 74); d) El 26 de noviembre de 2018, el Departamento de Archivo entrega a la Comisión que estudia el proyecto de Ley, que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", el expediente No. 21.118, con su publicación en el Alcance 198 publicado en La Gaceta No. 217 de 22 de noviembre de 2018 (folio 75); e) Por Decreto Ejecutivo No. 41453-MP el Poder Ejecutivo convoca a sesiones extraordinarias el proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente legislativo No. 21.118 (folios 76-81); f) Por sesión No. 05 del 10 de diciembre de 2018, la Comisión Especial que se encargará de conocer y dictaminar proyectos de Ley requeridos, para lograr la adhesión de Costa Rica a la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico acuerda no enviar los expediente legislativos Nos. 21.118 y 21.119 a subcomisión y reservarlo para la Comisión en pleno (folios 82-86); g) Por sesión No. 06 del 12 de diciembre de 2018, la Comisión Especial que se encargará de conocer y dictaminar proyectos de Ley requeridos, para lograr la adhesión de Costa Rica a la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico, conoce y aprueba la moción para que se reciba en audiencia a la señora vice-ministra de Ambiente, Haydee Rodríguez para que se refiera a los expedientes legislativos Nos. 21.118 y 21.119 (folios 88-96); h) Por sesión No. 07 del 17 de diciembre de 2018, la Comisión Especial que se encargará de conocer y dictaminar proyectos de Ley requeridos, para lograr la adhesión de Costa Rica a la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico, recibió a la señora Viceministra de Aguas y Mares y el Viceministro de Energía, ambos del MINAET, y posteriormente, aprueban por unanimidad el proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", No. 21.118 (folios 111-122); i) El Dictamen Afirmativo Unánime del proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", del expediente legislativo No. 21.118, fue presentado a la Secretaría del Directorio el 9 de enero de 2019 (folio 123-165); j) Por sesión ordinaria No. 119 del 14 de enero de 2019, el plenario legislativo conoce una moción de orden de posposición, la cual fue aprobada, para posteriormente iniciar la discusión por el fondo, en el trámite de Primer Debate del proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente No. 21.118, en el cual después del uso de la palabra de las señoras y señores diputados, se sometió a votación, se aprobó con los cuarenta y cuatro diputados y diputadas presentes, todos (as) votando a favor del proyecto (folios 166-178); k) El 16 de enero de 2019, el proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente No. 21.118 es entregado a la Comisión Permanente Especial de Redacción para lo de su cargo (folio 179-217 y 222-266); l) El 17 de enero de 2019, es presentado el informe jurídico del Departamento de Servicios Técnicos bajo el número de oficio AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019, relacionado con el proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente No. 21.118 a la Secretaría del Directorio (folios 268-280); m) Durante la tramitación del expediente legislativo, con fecha 21 de enero de 2019, el Departamento de Estudios, Referencias y Servicios Técnicos presenta el informe para la Comisión Permanente Especial de Redacción AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 del 16 de enero de 2019 (folios 218-221).
• n)El 24 de enero de 2019, la Comisión Permanente Especial de Redacción remite a la Secretaría del Directorio el proyecto de ley que es de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", expediente legislativo No. 21.118, para que continúe su trámite legislativo respectivo (folio 267).

III.- El procedimiento en el caso concreto.- De conformidad con lo establecido en el artículo 98 de la ley que rige esta Jurisdicción, este Tribunal analizó la tramitación del proyecto de Ley de aprobación y adhesión al "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", que se tramita en el expediente legislativo número 21.118. En efecto, el proyecto de ley fue conocido por el Plenario Legislativo como correspondía; por tratarse de un convenio internacional no podía ser delegado en una Comisión Legislativa con Potestad Legislativa Plena según lo establece el artículo 124, párrafo 3, de la Constitución Política en relación con el 121, párrafo 4, ibídem. Previamente a ello, el proyecto de Ley fue publicado en el Alcance No. 198 de La Gaceta No. 217 de 22 de noviembre de 2018, lo que se constata en la siguiente dirección de la web: https://www.imprentanacional.go.cr/pub/2018/11/22/ALCA198_22_11_2018.pdf. Por el contenido del Convenio, al ser parte del proceso de adhesión que se está llevando a cabo, la Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa encomendó el trámite y estudio del proyecto de ley de aprobación y adhesión a la Comisión Especial que se encargará de conocer y dictaminar proyectos de Ley requeridos, para lograr la adhesión de Costa Rica a la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE) (20.992). Se destaca de la tramitación de que fue objeto el proyecto, que fue dictaminado afirmativamente por unanimidad de la Comisión Especial y, posteriormente, votado en el plenario antes de recibir los estudios de Servicios Técnicos. De conformidad con el artículo 122 del Reglamento de la Asamblea Legislativa, se aportaron (superando los cinco días que establece dicha norma) dos informes jurídicos preparados por el Departamento de Estudios, Referencias y Servicios Técnicos AL-DEST-IRE-015-2019 de 16 de enero de 2019, y AL-DEST-IJU-023-2019 de 17 de enero de 2019, plazo que se estima ordenatorio, razón por la cual, no existe un vicio sustancial en el procedimiento legislativo. Al tratarse de un convenio internacional, por la jerarquía normativa que goza, establecida en el artículo 7 constitucional, modifica todas las leyes que se le opongan, ni se observan otras implicaciones.

IV.- A partir de lo dicho, es posible inferir que la aprobación del proyecto de Ley en consulta ha respetado todas las disposiciones procedimentales que la Constitución Política (artículos 7, 121 inciso 4), 124, 140 inciso 5) y 10) y el Reglamento de la Asamblea Legislativa (artículos 85 inciso c) y d), 113, 117, 118, 119, 122, 129, 132, 134 y 144). En este sentido, el proyecto de ley fue presentado para su tramitación legislativa por parte del Poder Ejecutivo, en ejercicio de su derecho de iniciativa, previsto en el artículo 140, inciso 5), de la Constitución Política con el fin de insertar el país en un acuerdo internacional que permita responder con fondos, los derrames de petróleo provocados por buques cargueros. Nótese, sobre el particular, que de la lectura del artículo 140, incisos 10) y 12) de la Constitución Política se desprende que la firma de los tratados internacionales y la dirección de las relaciones internacionales es una atribución del Poder Ejecutivo. En este caso, con el fin de impulsar la adhesión de nuestro país a la OCDE, el segundo vicepresidente de la República, Marvin Rodríguez Cordero, el Sr. Rodolfo Méndez Mata, como ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes, así como Rolando Castro Córdoba, como el ministro a.í. de Ambiente y Energía, suscriben la iniciativa y el Ministro de la Presidencia, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort presentó el tratado a la Asamblea Legislativa para su aprobación. De igual manera, por Decreto Ejecutivo No. 41453-MP, el presidente de la República, Carlos Alvarado Quesada y el ministro de la Presidencia, Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, impulsan la aprobación del convenio en sesiones extraordinarias como parte de la etapa del procedimiento legislativo que le corresponde al Poder Ejecutivo. Bajo tal orden de consideraciones, no se observa vicio alguno en lo tocante a la tramitación, y aprobación de la adhesión al mencionado acuerdo.

V.- Observaciones en cuanto al fondo del proyecto. El convenio que nos ocupa, forma parte de la cooperación internacional en materia de navegación marítima, especialmente en el establecimiento de reglamentaciones técnicas que ayuden a la seguridad marítima, así como al establecimiento de protecciones, según lo enuncia el artículo 1° de la Convención creadora de la Organización Marítima Internacional (OMI), con la prevención y contención de la contaminación del mar ocasionada por los buques, y atender las cuestiones administrativas y jurídicas relacionadas con los objetivos enunciados en el mencionado artículo. En este sentido, el Convenio Internacional sobre responsabilidad civil nacida de daños debidos a contaminación por hidrocarburos, 1992, (tramitado bajo el expediente legislativo No. 21.119), es acompañado con el Convenio que nos ocupa (expediente legislativo 21.118), sobre la constitución de un fondo internacional de indemnización de daños debido a la contaminación por hidrocarburos, 1992. En este sentido, este último tratado, tiene como fin desarrollar todo un mecanismo jurídico y económico para constituir un fondo que permita responder financieramente ante derrames accidentales de buques petroleros que crucen nuestro mar territorial o la zona económica exclusiva. El artículo 2 establece que el fondo tiene como fin indemnizar a las víctimas de los daños ocasionados por contaminación en la medida en que la protección establecida por el Convenio de Responsabilidad Civil, 1992, resulte insuficiente, o incluso, para lograr los objetivos conexos estipulados en el Convenio. El tratado puede sufragar el costo de las operaciones de reparación y restauración, cubrir daños materiales y económicos del sector pesquero. entre otros. Como se puede observar, el convenio tiene objetivos que claramente estarían en sintonía con los artículos 46 y 50 de la Constitución Política, toda vez que, ayudaría a enfrentar las consecuencias sociales y económicas que se derivarían de derrames de buques petroleros, pero además de reparación y restauración del medio ambiente, de suceder tan lamentables accidentes en nuestras aguas territoriales.

VI.- Conclusión. En opinión de esta Sala Constitucional el proyecto de Ley de aprobación a la adhesión del " Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", que se tramita en el expediente legislativo número 21.118, no ha infringido ninguno de los trámites legislativos atinentes a la aprobación de tratados internacionales, como tampoco el Derecho de la Constitución (valores, principios y normas).

VII.- Nota del magistrado Rueda Leal.- Visto que ambos proyectos se encuentran actualmente en la corriente legislativa, subrayo que la aprobación del Convenio Internacional Sobre Responsabilidad Civil Nacida De Daños Debidos A Contaminacion Por Hidrocarburos, 1992 (expediente legislativo n.° 21.119) debe ser previa o, al menos, simultánea a la aprobación del Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992 (expediente legislativo n.° 21.118) dado que el primero sirve de base al segundo.

Por tanto:

Se evacua la consulta formulada, en el sentido de que no se observan vicios esenciales de constitucionalidad en el trámite legislativo del proyecto de Ley de aprobación a la adhesión del "Convenio Internacional sobre la Constitución de un Fondo Internacional de Indemnización de Daños Debidos a Contaminación por Hidrocarburos, 1992", que se tramita en el expediente legislativo número 21.118, y en cuanto al fondo no infringe el Derecho de la Constitución. El magistrado Rueda Leal pone nota. Comuníquese este pronunciamiento al Directorio de la Asamblea Legislativa.

Fernando Castillo V.

Paul Rueda L.

Nancy Hernández L.

Jorge Araya G.

Marta Eugenia Esquivel R.

Alejandro Delgado F.

Mauricio Chacón J.

Documento Firmado Digitalmente -- Código verificador -- *H143MWGRKKK061* Morenos, 100 mts.Sur de la iglesia del Perpetuo Socorro). Recepción de asuntos de grupos vulnerables: Edificio Corte Suprema de Justicia, San José, Distrito Catedral, Barrio González Lahmann, calles 19 y 21, avenidas 8 y 6