A stable and predictable legal environment is one of the basic factors considered in the investment process. It is of particular importance in the energy sector with its characteristically long-term investments which require substantial financial outlays. It has to be underlined that the nature of energy industry is rapidly changing both from the overall shape of the investment and regulatory models. One can observe that the model of the energy market that used to be based on state monopoly evolved into private or half private structure. However, of the particular importance is the fact that together with liberalisation and privatisation of the market the state becomes an active regulator of the market. It is especially noticeable in renewable energy sector in which governments by anticipating and incentivizing are creating conditions for new investments. Simultaneously, one cannot ignore that the state active regulatory policy may also bring a risk that support for certain investments will last as long as it is necessary to achieve its goals such as environmental protection, the need to strengthen awareness or equalise support costs. Therefore, abrupt change in the legal framework may affect the previously accepted financial setup of the investment. In extreme cases, the change may make the investment unprofitable and thereby cause damage to the investor. This raises the question as to what legal remedies are available to foreign investors in the event of an unexpected and unjustified revision of the legal environment by the host state, provided that said revision causes damage to the investor. The authors assume the following thesis: the investor's interests are protected under the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations established in the framework of international law. The practical aspect of the hypothesis is also related to the question of the legal force of the arguments contained in the cases that were analysed and given as an example in the paper. As the paper analyses the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations in the framework of international law through the prism of the investments in the energy sector, it is reasonable to verify the hypothesis regarding the effectiveness of the said principle as a legal basis for bringing claims by the investor. By analysing the doctrine itself and the related legislation and judgements, the authors shall attempt to determine when, and under what conditions, it is possible to apply the principle of reasonable and legitimate expectations in order to minimise the regulatory risk of an investment.

This publication is a part of a study of the French Code des juridictions financières in the field of the institutional aspects of the control of public finances. The main purpose is not only to describe the specificity of the French legal system in this field but also to focus on the solutions and type of support institutions that were developed by the French legislator. The general control exercised by the Court of Auditors (Cour des comptes) and regional and territorial audit chambers (Chambres régionales et territoriales des comptes) can be more effective thanks to the so-called supporting institutions, such as the Court for Budgetary and Financial Discipline (Cour de discipline budgétaire et financière), the Supreme Council of Public Finance (Haut Conseil des finances publiques), or the Tribunal for Compulsory Contributions (Conseil des prélèvements obligatoires). This study and analysis of the provisions of the Code des juridictions financières related to the three above-mentioned supporting institutions may also be considered as the first step towards further in-depth analysis and research, and thus the possible application of structures and solutions that are present in French tax law by the Polish legislator or that of any other European country.

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Niniejsza publikacja stanowi fragment badań nad francuskim generalnym kodeksem podatków (Code général des impôts), w zakresie podatków lokalnych. Publikacja ta ukazuje specyfikę tzw. innych fakultatywnych podatków gminnych, które  francuski ustawodawca wprowadził obok innych gminnych podatków obowiązkowych. W ramach niniejszego opracowania analizie poddano trzy z czterech  innych lokalnych podatków fakultatywnych: podatek od przekazania gruntu, który stał się możliwy do zabudowania (art. 1529- Taxe sur la cession de terrains devenus constructibles); podatek od nieużytków handlowych (art. 1530 - Taxe sur les friches commerciales) oraz podatek od zarządzania środowiskiem wodnym i zapobiegania powodziom (art. 1530 bis - Taxe pour la gestion des milieux aquatiques et la prévention des inondations). Niniejsze opracowanie nie tylko przybliża specyfikę francuskiego systemu podatkowego, ale stanowi pierwszy krok w kierunku możliwego wykorzystania istniejących w prawie podatkowym francuskim konstrukcji i rozwiązań przez polskiego ustawodawcę