CYIL 2015

PETR VÁLEK CYIL 6 ȍ2015Ȏ The majority of States has accepted the restrictive immunity doctrine, and this has been reflected in their domestic legislation, e.g., the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, the UK State Immunity Act of 1978 and the Czech Act on Private International Law of 2012. 7 2. The Applicable International Legal Framework State immunity is derived from the principle of sovereign equality of States which is set out in key international legal documents, including the UN Charter. 8 Furthermore, the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations – despite some Cold War language – confirms that: “All States enjoy sovereign equality. They have equal rights and duties and are equal members of the international community, notwithstanding differences of an economic, social, political or other nature. In particular, sovereign equality includes the following elements: States are judicially equal; …Each State has the duty to respect the personality of other States”. 9 Despite these general principles contained in the above-stated instruments, the specific rules of international law governing State immunity are to be found in the form of customary international law. Attempts to codify these rules have not been entirely successful so far. First, on the regional level, the European Convention on State Immunity – drawn up within the Council of Europe by a committee of governmental experts under the authority of the European Committee on Legal Co operation – was opened for signature in Basle on 16 May 1972 (the “European Convention”). Although it entered into force on 11 June 1976, the European Convention can hardly be considered a successful codification project, as it currently (1) The foreign States are exempt from the jurisdiction of the Czech courts in case of proceedings arising from their conduct and acts made in the exercise of their State, Government and other public powers and functions, including their property which is used or assigned for such exercise. (Z pravomoci českých soudů jsou vyňaty cizí státy, pokud jde o řízení vyplývající z jejich jednání a úkonů učiněných při výkonu jejich státních, vládních a jiných veřejných pravomocí a funkcí, včetně jejich majetku, který je k takovému výkonu používán nebo určen.) (2) The exemption from jurisdiction of the Czech courts does not apply to other conduct, acts or cases to the extent in which, according to general international law or a treaty, it is possible to bring actions against a foreign State before the courts of another State. (Vynětí z pravomoci českých soudů se nevztahuje na jiná jednání, úkony nebo případy, a to v rozsahu, v němž podle obecného mezinárodního práva nebo mezinárodní smlouvy lze proti cizímu státu uplatňovat práva u soudů jiného státu.). 8 Art. 2 para. 1 of the UN Charter: “The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.” 9 The UNGA Resolution No. 2625 (XXV), adopted on 24 October 1970, UN Doc. A/RES/25/2625. 7 No. 91/2012 of the Official Gazette (Zákon o mezinárodním právu soukromém) , § 7: Immunity from Jurisdiction of the Czech Courts (Vynětí z pravomoci českých soudů) – any possible mistakes in translation are my own:

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