Committee Description

Damage on the Danube? This committee will return to July 1993 to deliberate the special agreement between the governments of Hungary and the Slovak Republic. Hungary and Czechoslovakia jointly notified the court of their disagreement on the implementation and termination of the Budapest Treaty of Sept 16th 1977. This treaty outlined the construction and operation of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Barrage system, which would produce hydroelectricity and prevent floods in addition to improving diplomacy between Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Despite the Slovak Republic having constructed their portion of the barrage, amid a growing environmentalist movement and political concerns about the project, Hungary suspended construction. Consequently, Czechoslovakia diverted the flow of the Danube to gain full control of the dam project through its solution called “Variant C”. 

This disagreement resulted from a multitude of conflicting views on the environmental impacts, trade, treaty obligations, diplomacy, and the socioeconomic impacts on locals. Notably, this case introduced key jurisprudence in the emerging field of international environmental law. The dissatisfaction of both parties with the verdict persists and varying opinions of the necessity of Variant C leaves delegates the opportunity to advocate for alternative outcomes to the real case.

Delegates will embody lawyers of each legal team, key witnesses or experts, and judges to advise, defend, and deliberate the international law implications of the dam construction agreement. Lawyers will represent individuals of the Republic of Hungary or the Slovak Republic’s legal teams. Witnesses will represent experts of the case or local witnesses. Judges will be those seated permanently on the ICJ court or ad-hoc judges added for regional representation or gender inclusivity; all judges will remain impartial. Judges will retain their names but will not take on the biases of their characters and are not representing a particular country. Judges are there for their unique legal expertise. The rules of procedure of this particular committee will not be typical as they follow a more court-based approach with presentation of evidence, witness testimony, and cross-examination along with aspects of resolution writing in the final verdict. The ICJ Dais is looking forward to meeting you all at SSUNS 2024!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Raphaëlle Muller-Feuga at spec@ssuns.org

Marisol Godbille-Cardona

Co-Chair

Pablo Puerto

Co-Chair

Carla Guadagnino

Vice-Chair

Eamonn Fitzpatrick

Vice-chair