State immunity

Abstract: The practice of national courts in Europe with regard to enforcement immunity is far from uniform. Nevertheless, certain common principles have emerged over the last decades. Absolute immunity from enforcement measures has been largely abandoned and almost all jurisdictions have adopted a restrictive approach to enforcement immunity in one or another form. Enforcement measures are usually permitted in case of waiver or with regard to earmarked property. In practice, the most important exception from immunity concerns non-governmental property. Here it is primarily the purpose of the property against which enforcement measures are sought that determines whether or not immunity will be granted. This article surveys the judicial practice in Europe, focusing on the case-law of the last 50 years, in order to permit an assessment of whether various recent codifications, most importantly the 2004 United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, actually codify such practice or depart from it.

Abstract: 1. Introduction 2. State Immunity 3. The Independence and Equality of States as Limits on the Essential Competence of National Courts 4. Personal Immunity 5. The Immunity of State Officials in the Light of Obligations of Individuals under International Law 6. The Immunity of States and their Officials in the Light of the Fundamental Rights of Individuals under International Law 7. Conclusion

Abstract: Foreword Christian Tomuschat and Jean-Marc Thouvenin I. L'identification des regles fondamentales - un probleme resolu ? Paul Tavernier II. Jus Cogens, Obligations Erga Omnes and other Rules - The Identification of Fundamental Norms Stefan Kadelbach III. An Example of Jus Cogens: The Status of Prisoners of War Stefanie Schmahl IV. Un exemple remarquable d'application du jus cogens, le statut de prisonnier de guerre Philippe Weckel V. Ius cogens and the Law of Treaties Wladyslaw Czaplinski VI. The Duty Not to 'Recognize as Lawful' a Situation Created by the Illegal Use of Force or Other Serious Breaches of a Jus Cogens Obligation: An Obligation Without Real Substance? Stefan Talmon VII. L'obligation de non-reconnaissance des situations creees par le recours illicite a la force ou d'autres actes enfreignant des regles fondamentales Theodore Christakis VIII. La specificite des reparations pour crimes internationaux Elisabeth Lambert-Abdelgawad IX. Do Damages Claims Arising from Jus Cogens Violations Override State Immunity from the Jurisdiction of Foreign Courts? Thomas Giegerich X. L'immunite des Etats Isabelle Pingel XI. Limits of International Law Immunities for Senior State Officials in Criminal Procedure Torsten Stein XII. The Right of Third States to Take Countermeasures Christian Hillgruber XIII. Special Jurisdiction of the ICJ in the Case of Infringements of Fundamental Rules of the International Legal Order? Matthias Ruffert XIV. La saisine de la Cour internationale de Justice en cas de violation des regles fondamentales de l'ordre juridique international Jean-Marc Thouvenin XV. Violations of Fundamental Norms of International Law and the Exercise of Universal Jurisdiction in Criminal Matters Andreas Zimmermann XVI. La competence universelle en matiere penale Michel Cosnard XVII. Universal Jurisdiction in the Area of Private Law - The Alien Tort Claims Act Georg Nolte XVIII. Competence civile universelle et droit international general Jean-Francois Flauss XIX. Conclusions Alain Pellet XX. Reconceptualizing the Debate on Jus Cogens and Obligations Erga Omnes - Concluding Observations Christian Tomuschat The Contributors Index Table of Cases / Index de jurisprudence.