Case Concerning the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project Hungary versus Slovakia, (1997)

Authors

  • Caroline Diana Katona Glendon College, York University Alumni

Abstract

In the ever-evolving domain of international law, there are milestone cases and rulings that bring forth new international norms and mark the beginnings of jurisprudence on certain matters. This paper looks at the milestone case of the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia), wherein the damming of the Danube and The Treaty of 16 September 1977 concerning the construction and operation of the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros System of Locks and both countries’ actions regarding the project were contested. The case brings to light, for the first time in the International Court of Justice, the necessity to preserve the environment, the right to the environment as a human right, and the transboundary water law. Although the rulings did not take into consideration enough of the above factors, the published opinions of judges, specifically Judge Weeramantry’s interpretation of the case of sustainable development in the context of human rights has been the primary step to discussions at an international level and jurisprudence on the matter. This paper gives an in-depth look at the specificities of the case and ruling, followed by the analysis of its importance in modern international law.


Le domaine de droit international en est un qui change sans cesse. Ces changements viennent avec certain cas et décisions qui marquent la percée de certains sujets sur la scène internationale. Cette dissertation examine le cas du Projet Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros (Hongrie/Slovaquie), et analyse son effet sur la jurisprudence des droits humains à l’environnement. C’était la première fois que la Cour International de Justice devait se prononcer sur une affaire impliquant le droit international de l'environnement et du droit des eaux transfrontalières, et la Cour elle-même n’a pas pris en considération les facteurs ou lois environnementaux. Toutefois, les opinions de certains juges, spécifiquement celui de Juge Weeramantry, ont établi les droits à l’environnement comme un droit humain sur un niveau de droit international.

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Published

2014-04-13

How to Cite

Katona, C. D. (2014). Case Concerning the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project Hungary versus Slovakia, (1997). Glendon Journal of International Studies, 7. Retrieved from https://gjis.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/gjis/article/view/37120

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