Bogdan AURESCU*
Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest
Abstract: During its 70th session of 2018, the UN International Law Commission decided to include, in its Long-Term Work Programme the topic “Sea-level rise in relation to international law”. This decision was based upon a proposal made by five members of the Commission, including the author of the present article. This paper presents the rationale behind the mentioned proposal, the contents of the syllabus included in the Report of the International Law Commission concerning its 70th session of 2018 and the prospects for this topic on the agenda of the Commission.
Key-words: Sea-level rise, legal effects, International Law Commission, baselines, maritime spaces, maritime delimitation, statehood, population
*Dr. Bogdan Aurescu is Professor of Public International Law of the Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest and Member of the International Law Commission of the UN. President of the International Law Section of the Romanian Association of International Law and International Relations (the Romanian Branch of the International Law Association – London) and editor-in-chief of the Romanian Journal of International Law. He is also member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, substitute member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Former Government Agent for the European Court of Human Rights (2003-2004), former Secretary of State for European Affairs (2004-2005), for Strategic Affairs (2009-2010, 2012-2014), for Global Affairs (2012) within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Agent of Romania before the International Court of Justice in the Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea case (2004-2009). Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania (2014-2015). Currently, he is Presidential Advisor for Foreign Policy to the President of Romania. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s and do not engage the institutions he belongs to.