Aims

As a result of the greatly increased impact of international organizations upon our lives, knowledge of the rules governing the mandate and functioning of those organizations has become increasingly important, not only for diplomats and specialized members of the legal profession, but also for policy makers and practitioners engaged in a wide range of professional activities. Consequently, this course is designed to provide any student with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the extent of this impact. 

Content

The institutional law of international organisations comprises those rules of law that govern their legal status, structure and functioning. In this course, the most important legal and institutional issues of the law of international organizations will be studied: definition of international organizations; different kinds of international organizations; establishment and dissolution; membership and other forms of participation; legal status of international organizations in international and domestic law; competences; organs; decision-making; types of decisions and their legal significance; financing; control; supervision of the execution of decisions; dispute settlement; external relations of international organizations.Those issues will be analysed more in-depth with regard to a number of international organisations, such as the United Nations and the organizations and organs linked to it (e.g., International Monetary Fund, the World Bank) as well as a number of regional intergovernmental organizations (in particular the OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, NATO). While studying the selected topics, the historical context and the societal forces that explain their existence and functioning will also be discussed. The tension between the intergovernmental and supranational method of cooperation will serve as a leitmotiv throughout the entire course.

1-2. Definition and classification of international organizations; role of international organizations in dealing with globalization and in providing ‘global governance’ and ‘global public goods’
 
3. Establishment, interpretation and modification of constituent treaties; dissolution and succession
 
4-5. membership and other forms of participation (observers, associate members, …); conditions for membership; suspension and termination of membership; exclusion and withdrawal
 
6. legal status of the organization in international and domestic law
 
7-8. competences: express, implied, delegated powers; sanctions in case of acting ultra vires
 
9. organs: composition, functioning, types of organs; mutual relationship, balance of powers/institutional balance;

10. privileges and immunities
 
11-12. decisionmaking: legal basis, procedure; types of decisions and their legal significance; supervision on the execution of decisions
 
13-14. financing and external and internal control of the organization; responsibility
 
15-16. dispute settlement mechanisms in the context of international organizations
 
17.    external relations of international organizations (EU,UN)
 
18  selected study of important developments concerning the United Nations and linked organizations and organs

19. peace and security: cooperation between regional intergovernmental organizations
 

Course material

Articles and literature
Examples and samples
Toledo / e-platform

Is also included in other courses

• Master in de rechten (International and European Law Major) 120 ects.
• Master in de rechten (International and European Law Minor) 120 ects.
• Master of Laws (LLM) (The European Union in International Relations: option) 60 ects.
• Master in de fiscaliteit 60 ects.
• Master in de Europese studies: transnationale en mondiale perspectieven (Module 3: Globalising Europe) 60 ects.
• Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (Module 3: Globalising Europe) 60 ects.
• Master of Space Studies (Major Subject: Space Law, Policy, Business and Management) 60 ects.
• Master of Law (Major: International Law) 120 ects.
• Master of Law (Minor: International Law) 120 ects.