Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)

OVERVIEW OF THE CASE

On 4 May 2006, Argentina filed an Application instituting proceedings against Uruguay concerning alleged breaches by Uruguay of obligations incumbent upon it under the Statute of the River Uruguay, a treaty signed by the two States on 26 February 1975 (hereinafter “the 1975 Statute”) for the purpose of establishing the joint machinery necessary for the optimum and rational utilization of that part of the river which constitutes their joint boundary. In its Application, Argentina charged Uruguay with having unilaterally authorized the construction of two pulp mills on the River Uruguay without complying with the obligatory prior notification and consultation procedures under the 1975 Statute. Argentina claimed that those mills posed a threat to the river and its environment and were likely to impair the quality of the river’s waters and to cause significant transboundary damage to Argentina. As basis for the Court’s jurisdiction, Argentina invoked the first paragraph of Article 60 of the 1975 Statute, which provides that any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that Statute which cannot be settled by direct negotiations may be submitted by either party to the Court.

Argentina’s Application was accompanied by a Request for the indication of provisional measures, whereby Argentina asked that Uruguay be ordered to suspend the authorizations for construction of the mills and all building works pending a final decision by the Court; to co-operate with Argentina with a view to protecting and conserving the aquatic environment of the River Uruguay; and to refrain from taking any further unilateral action with respect to the construction of the two mills incompatible with the 1975 Statute, and from any other action which might aggravate the dispute or render its settlement more difficult. Public hearings on the Request for the indication of provisional measures were held on 8 and 9 June 2006. By an Order of 13 July 2006, the Court found that the circumstances, as they then presented themselves to it, were not such as to require the exercise of its power under Article 41 of the Statute to indicate provisional measures.

On 29 November 2006, Uruguay in turn submitted a Request for the indication of provisional measures on the grounds that, from 20 November 2006, organized groups of Argentine citizens had blockaded a “vital international bridge” over the River Uruguay, that that action was causing it considerable economic prejudice and that Argentina had made no effort to end the blockade. At the end of its Request, Uruguay asked the Court to order Argentina to take “all reasonable and appropriate steps . . . to prevent or end the interruption of transit between Uruguay and Argentina, including the blockading of bridges or roads between the two States”; to abstain “from any measure that might aggravate, extend or make more difficult the settlement of this dispute”; and to abstain “from any other measure which might prejudice the rights of Uruguay in dispute before the Court”. Public hearings on the Request for the indication of provisional measures were held on 18 and 19 December 2006. By an Order of 23 January 2007, the Court found that the circumstances, as they then presented themselves to it, were not such as to require the exercise of its power under Article 41 of the Statute.

Following public hearings held between 14 September 2009 and 2 October 2009, the Court delivered its Judgment on 20 April 2010. With respect to Argentina’s argument that projects had been authorized by Uruguay in violation of the mechanism for prior notification and consultation laid down by Articles 7 to 13 of the 1975 Statute (the procedural violations), the Court noted that Uruguay had not informed the Administrative Commission of the River Uruguay (CARU) of the projects as prescribed in the Statute. The Court concluded that, by not informing CARU of the planned works before the issuing of the initial environmental authorizations for each of the mills and for the port terminal adjacent to the Orion (Botnia) mill, and by failing to notify the plans to Argentina through CARU, Uruguay had violated the 1975 Statute.

With respect to Argentina’s contention that the industrial activities authorized by Uruguay had had, or would have, an adverse impact on the quality of the waters of the river and the area affected by it, and had caused significant damage to the quality of the waters of the river and significant transboundary damage to Argentina (the substantive violations), the Court found, based on a detailed examination of the Parties’ arguments, that there was

“no conclusive evidence in the record to show that Uruguay has not acted with the requisite degree of due diligence or that the discharges of effluent from the Orion (Botnia) mill have had deleterious effects or caused harm to living resources or to the quality of the water or the ecological balance of the river since it started its operations in November 2007”.

Consequently, the Court concluded that Uruguay had not breached substantive obligations under the Statute. In addition to this finding, however, the Court emphasized that, under the 1975 Statute, “[t]he Parties have a legal obligation . . . to continue their co-operation through CARU and to enable it to devise the necessary means to promote the equitable utilization of the river, while protecting its environment”.


This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.

Institution of proceedings


Written proceedings

4 May 2006
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Annexes
(bilingual version) Bilingual
30 November 2006
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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15 January 2007
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20 July 2007
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Reply of Argentina (French version only)
29 January 2008
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29 July 2008
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Oral proceedings

Verbatim record 2006/46 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 8 June 2006, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/47 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 8 June 2006, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/48 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Friday 9 June 2006, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/49 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Friday 9 June 2006, at 4:30 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/54 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Monday 18 December 2006, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/55 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Monday 18 December 2006, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/56 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Tuesday 19 December 2006, at 10 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2006/57 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Tuesday 19 December 2006, at 4.30 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Higgins presiding
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/12 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Monday 14 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/13 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Tuesday 15 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/14 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Wednesday 16 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
Available in:
Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/15 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 17 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
Available in:
Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/16 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Monday 21 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/17 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Tuesday 22 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/18 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Wednesday 23 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/19 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 24 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
Available in:
Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/20 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Monday 28 September 2009, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/21 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Tuesday 29 September 2009, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
Available in:
Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/22 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 1 October 2009, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
Available in:
Translation
(bilingual version) Translation
Verbatim record 2009/23 (bilingual version)
Public sitting held on Thursday 1 October 2009, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, Vice-President Tomka, Acting President, presiding, in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay)
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Translation
(bilingual version) Translation

Other documents


Orders

Fixing of time-limits: Memorial and Counter-Memorial
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Fixing of time-limits: Reply and Rejoinder
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Judgments


Summaries of Judgments and Orders

Summary of the Order of 13 July 2006
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Summary of the Order of 23 January 2007
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Summary of the Judgment of 20 April 2010
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Press releases

4 May 2006
Argentina institutes proceedings against Uruguay and requests the Court to indicate provisional measures
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11 May 2006
Proceedings instituted by Argentina against Uruguay - Request for the indication of provisional measures - The Court will hold public hearings on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June 2006
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29 May 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Accreditation procedure for the public hearings on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June 2006 - MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
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29 May 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Accreditation procedure for the public hearings on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 June 2006 - PRESS
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9 June 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Conclusion of the public hearings on provisional measures
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6 July 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Court to give its Order on Thursday 13 July 2006 at 10 a.m. - The President of the Court will make a statement to the Press immediately after the reading of the Order
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7 July 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Accreditation procedure for the public sitting on Thursday 13 July 2006 - PRESS
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7 July 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Admission procedure for the public sitting on Thursday 13 July 2006 - MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
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13 July 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - The Court finds that the circumstances, as they now present themselves to it, are not such as to require the exercise of its power to indicate provisional measures
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17 July 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Fixing of time-limits for the filing of the initial pleadings
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29 November 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Uruguay submits a request for the indication of provisional measures - Public hearings to open on Monday 18 December 2006
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8 December 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Schedule of the public hearings which will open on Monday 18 December 2006
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19 December 2006
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Conclusion of the public hearings on provisional measures
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17 January 2007
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Request for the indication of provisional measures - Court to deliver its Order on Tuesday 23 January 2007 at 10 a.m.
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23 January 2007
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - The Court finds that the circumstances, as they now present themselves to it, are not such as to require the exercise of its power to indicate provisional measures
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17 September 2007
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - The Court authorizes the submission of a Reply by Argentina and a rejoinder by Uruguay and fixes time-limits for the filing of these pleadings
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16 July 2009
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - The Court to hold public hearings from Monday 14 September to Friday 2 October 2009
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2 October 2009
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Conclusion of the public hearings - Court begins its deliberation
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26 March 2010
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Court to deliver its Judgment on Tuesday 20 April 2010 at 3 p.m.
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19 April 2010
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - Live Internet video coverage of the reading of the Court's Judgment on Tuesday 20 April 2010, from 3 p.m.
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20 April 2010
Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay) - The Court finds that Uruguay has breached its procedural obligations to co-operate with Argentina and the Administrative Commission of the River Uruguay (CARU) during the development of plans for the CMB (ENCE) and Orion (Botnia) pulp mills - The Court declares that Uruguay has not breached its substantive obligations for the protection of the environment provided for by the Statute of the River Uruguay by authorizing the construction and commissioning of the Orion (Botnia) mill
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