UCL - Public International Law

[DROI2103]

[60h] 6 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

Teacher(s): Pierre D'Argent, Frédéric Dopagne

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the basic rules governing the international society, composed primarily of States, and to analyze the issues that may be raised by their enforcement in national legal systems, especially in the Belgian one. The purpose is also to enable students to better understand current international events with the perspective of the legal rules governing international relations.

Main themes

The course covers the main themes which make traditionally part of the study of public international law, and will emphasize, where appropriate, the relationship between this discipline and international private law. The course will present the following themes:
- general concepts;
- subjects of international law;
- sources of international law (as well as the relationship between these sources and national law);
- international responsability;
- counter-measures;
- peaceful settlement of disputes;
- collective security;
- regime and protection of spaces;
- protection of persons;
- basic rules of international trade.

Content and teaching methods

The course is divided into 6 parts, the first four being taught by Pierre d'Argent and the last two by Joe Verhoeven:

1. Sources of IL
2. Subjects of IL
3. International responsibility and sanctions
4. Use of force and collective security
5. Pacific settlement of disputes
6. Law of common spaces (rivers, sea, air, space, Antarctic)

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The materials made progressively available on the website iCampus are a "synopsis" (detailed plan) of the course and some relevant documents cited during the classes. It is therefore particularly important to take intelligible notes in order to complete those materials.

Books of reference (no compulsory purchase):
- J. Verhoeven, Droit international public, Larcier, 2000 (Précis de la Faculté de droit de l'UCL);
- J. Combacau & S. Sur, Droit international public, Montchrestien (dernière édition);
- P.-M. Dupuy, Droit international public, Dalloz (dernière édition);
- P. Daillier, M. Forteau & A. Pellet, Droit international public, LGDJ (dernière édition)