Hungary’s Embassy in The Hague organised a panel discussion entitled “International law from a Visegrád perspective” in cooperation with The Hague Institute for Global Justice research institute. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Réka Varga, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Directorate of International Law. The event, in which the diplomatic body in The Hague and some 130 people from international courts and research institutes took part, was organised within the framework of the Hungarian presidency of the Visegrád Group (V4). During the panel discussion, recognised judges from the Visegrád Group countries shared their views with regard to their countries’ legal traditions and the ways in which those traditions are effected by international law, in addition to which they discussed how domestic court experience influences their work in the international courts and tribunals operating in The Hague.
The first speaker, Polish Judge Piotr Hofmánski from the International Criminal Court, gave an introductory lecture on the effects of Central European judges and legal experts on international criminal justice.
Hungarian Judge Péter Kovács from the International Criminal Court shared his views on how the relationship of countries that were formerly under Soviet influence to international law has developed. In his speech, he provided an excellent review of how the relationship of the Visegrád Group countries to international law has changed in recent decades.
President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Judge Ivana Hrdličková spoke about the challenges facing international courts, citing political and financial credibility as the greatest challenges, and recommending greater transparency, efficiency and accountability as solutions.
Slovakian Judge Peter Tomka from the International Court of Justice spoke about legal experts from the Visegrád Group countries whose work had had the greatest effect on the development of international law, pointing out that Poland had been the most active in cases that were heard by the Permanent Court of International Justice, which was the predecessor to the International Court of Justice. He also highlighted the fact that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) had come into being in December of 1966 as a result of a Hungarian initiative.
In the closing speech of the event, Ambassador Dr. András Kocsis thanked the judges for their participation and thought-provoking lectures.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
