Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia)
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| Press Release 1997/8 |  |
15 April 1997
Case concerning the Gabcíkovo-Nagymaros Project
(Hungary/Slovakia)
Conclusion of the hearings
THE HAGUE, 15 April. The hearings in the above case, which started on 3 March, were concluded today. The Court will now begin to consider its Judgment.
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During the week of 3 to 7 March the Hungarian Agent, Counsel and Advocates addressed the Court (H.E. Mr. György Szénási, Agent and Counsel; Messrs. James Crawford, Pierre-Marie Dupuy, Alexandre Kiss, László Valki, Boldizsár Nagy and Philippe Sands and Ms Katherine Gorove, Counsel and Advocates; and Dr. Howard Wheater, Dr. Gábor Vida, Dr. Roland Carbiener and Dr. Klaus Kern, Advocates). A video-film was shown.
Judges Ranjeva, Fleischhauer and Vereshchetin put questions to the Hungarian Party.
From 24 to 27 March the Slovak Agent, Co-Agent, Counsel and Advocates, and Counsel and Experts addressed the Court (H.E. Dr. Peter Tomka, Agent; Dr. Václav Mikulka, Co-Agent, Counsel and Advocate; Messrs. Stephen C. McCaffrey, Alain Pellet, Sir Arthur Watts and Mr. Samuel S. Wordsworth, Counsel and Advocates; and Messrs. Igor Mucha and Jens Christian Refsgaard, Counsel and Experts). A video-film was shown.
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As reported in Press Communiqué 97/7 of 9 April 1997, the Court paid a visit to the site of the Gabcíkovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project from 1 to 4 April.
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On Thursday 10 and Friday 11 April the Hungarian Party presented its second round of oral arguments (H.E. Mr. György Szénási, Agent and Counsel; Messrs. James Crawford, Pierre-Marie Dupuy, Alexandre Kiss, László Valki, Boldizsár Nagy and Philippe Sands and Ms Katherine Gorove, Counsel and Advocates; and Dr. Howard Wheater, Dr. Roland Carbiener and Dr. Klaus Kern, Advocates).
Slovakia did so on Monday 14 and today, Tuesday 15 April (H.E. Dr. Peter Tomka, Agent; Dr. Václav Mikulka, Co-Agent, Counsel and Advocate; Messrs. Stephen C. McCaffrey, Alain Pellet, Sir Arthur Watts and Mr. Samuel S. Wordsworth, Counsel and Advocates; and Messrs. Igor Mucha and Jens Christian Refsgaard, Counsel and Experts).
Both Agents read out the final submissions of their Governments.
The President, Vice-President and Judge Bedjaoui put questions to either or both of the Parties.
In its deliberations and in the drafting of its Judgment, the Court will follow the steps outlined in the Resolution concerning the Internal Judicial Practice of the Court:
Shortly after the end of the hearings a preliminary deliberation is held at which the President outlines the issues which he considers to require discussion and decision by the Court. This outline is discussed.
Within a certain time-limit, each Judge then prepares a written Note on the issues of the case which is distributed to the other Judges.
A full deliberation is held afterwards.
On the basis of the views expressed in the previous phases, a Drafting Committee is chosen by secret ballot, consisting of two Judges holding the majority view, and the President if he shares that view.
In successive stages, the Drafting Committee prepares a preliminary draft text, a draft text for first reading and a draft text for second reading. Meanwhile, Judges who wish to do so, may prepare a separate or dissenting opinion.
The final vote is taken after the adoption of the final text in the second reading.
The date of the public sitting at which the President of the Court will read the Judgment, will be announced in a subsequent press communiqué.