Article 31(3)(c) VCLT and the Principle of Systemic Integration

Panos Merkouris, Ph.D. (Queen Mary), is a Lecturer on Public International Law at the University of Groningen. He has published extensively on the law of treaties and treaty interpretation, including Treaty Interpretation and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: 30 Years on (2010).

• ContentsForeword2Preface3Acknowledgments4Abbreviations10Table of Cases15Table of Treaties44Table of Other Primary Authorities & Documents48Prolegomena55Part I: Article 31(3)(c) and the Principle of Systemic Integration from a Normative Point of View66Chapter I: The Elements of Article 31(3)(c) of the VCLT and the Principle of Systemic Integration66I. Introduction67II. Ordinary Meaning and Context of Article 31(3)(c) of the VCLT: An Article 31 – based Interpretation68III. Preparatory Work of the VCLT and pre-ILC Documents as other Supplementary Means: An Article 32 – based Interpretation75IV. Jurisprudence (‘other Supplementary Means of Interpretation’) as ‘Determinative’ of the Content of Article 31(3)(c): The ‘Proximity Criterion’ Revealed90Chapter II: Article 31(3)(c) and Intertemporality145I. Introduction145II. Debating Intertemporality During the Travaux Préparatoires of the VCLT147III. Intertemporal Law: Between Stability and Change162IV. Conclusion196Part II: Article 31(3)(c) VCLT and the Principle of Systemic Integration from a Systemic Point of View198Chapter III: Principles of Conflict Resolution within the Interpretative Process of Article 31(3)(c)199I. Definition202II. Hierarchy – Jus Cogens209III. Limitations of Jus Cogens213IV. Conflict Clauses215V. Limitations of Conflict Clauses218VI. Lex Posterior Derogat Priori223VII. Limitations of the Lex Posterior Principle228VIII. Lex Specialis Derogat Generali236IX. Limitations of the Lex Specialis Principle240X. The Relationship between the Lex Posterior and Lex Specialis Principles: Antagonism or Complementarity?242XI. Principles of Conflict Resolution within the Interpretative Process of Article 31(3)(c)245XII. Conclusion254Chapter IV: Interpretation of Customary International Law by Reference to the Customary Law Equivalent of Article 31(3)(c) (Article 31(3)(c) CIL)256I. Introduction256II. Is Interpretation of Customary International Law Possible?257III. Methods of Interpretation of Customary International Law284IV. Conclusion316Concluding Remarks319Bibliography324Index346