3.3.1. Objectifs et modalités de mise en oeuvre de l'obligation de notification des mesures projetées

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En provenance du cours de University of Geneva

Droit International de l'Eau Douce

18 notes

University of Geneva

Droit International de l'Eau Douce

18 notes

Au cours des dernières décennies, le droit international a connu des développements majeurs afin de tenir compte des multiples facettes que revêt la gestion et la protection des eaux douces. L’adoption d’instruments universels, régionaux et de bassins souligne l’importance d’étudier l’évolution de la réglementation internationale relative à l’eau et d’identifier les grands principes en ce domaine. Aussi, ce cours vise à offrir les bases nécessaires pour appréhender et examiner la régulation qui s’applique eaux douces transfrontières notamment aux fleuves, aux lacs et aux aquifères. Il présente les principes et les normes juridiques qui régissent l’utilisation, le partage, la gestion et la protection de ces ressources. Le MOOC est composé de 5 modules pouvant être visualisés dans un ordre quelconque, car abordant chacun un thème différent. Cependant, l’ordre des modules suit une certaine logique pédagogique et facilite la compréhension du MOOC pour des personnes ne connaissant pas le sujet. Chaque module s’accompagne d’un questionnaire d’évaluation/quiz. Le MOOC suivra un parcours unique donnant droit à un certificat pour les apprenants ayant obtenu une moyenne supérieure à 80% aux quiz. A la fin du cours, l’apprenant sera à même entre autres : 1) de décrire les enjeux liés à la régulation des eaux douces transfrontières ; 2) d’expliquer l’évolution de la réglementation internationale relative aux eaux douces transfrontières ; 3) de rappeler et d’interpréter les principes et les règles qui régissent la régulation des ressources en eau ; 4) de comprendre le rôle des mécanismes de règlement des différends liés aux eaux douces transfrontières dans le développement du droit international de l’eau douce (ou de comprendre le rôle des cours et tribunaux internationaux dans la résolution des conflits sur l’eau douce) Ce MOOC a été développé par la Plateforme pour le droit international de l’eau douce qui fait partie du Pôle Eau de Genève. Il a été accompagné par la Cellule MOOC de l’Université de Genève. A côté des chercheurs et des enseignants de la Plateforme, plusieurs experts internationaux ont également participé. Ce MOOC fait partie des trois cours soutenu par le Pôle Eau Genève et l’Université de Genève en compagnie des MOOCs en « Gestion et politique de l’eau » (www.coursera.org/learn/gestioneau) et en « Services écosystémiques : une méthode pour le développement durable » (www.coursera.org/learn/ecosystem-services). Ce cours est financé par le Programme Global Eau de la Direction du développement et de la coopération suisse (DDC).

À partir de la leçon

Module 3: Les principes du droit relatif aux eaux douces transfrontières I

Ce module explique le contenu des principes généraux qui régissent le partage des eaux et de la réglementation relative aux mesures projetées sur les eaux douces transfrontières. Il rappelle les fondements théoriques et le contenu du principe de l’utilisation équitable et raisonnable, de l’obligation de ne pas causer de dommages significatifs et du principe de coopération. Les contours des règles relatives à la notification, à la consultation et à la négociation en cas de mesures projetées sont examinés. L’interaction entre ces principes sera aussi présentée. Un quiz clôturera ce module et équivaudra à 25% de la note finale. Pour le réussir, vous devez avoir au moins 80% de réponses correctes.

3.3.1. Objectifs et modalités de mise en oeuvre de l'obligation de notification des mesures projetées8:52

3.3.2. Procédures d'enclenchement et de déroulement des consultations et négociations en cas de mesures projetées8:27

Rencontrer les enseignants

Laurence Boisson de Chazournes
Professor
Department of Public International Law and International Organization, Faculty of Law
Makane Moïse Mbengue
Professor
Faculty of Law and Institute of Environmental Sciences
Mara Tignino
Reader
Department of Public International Law and International Organization, Faculty of Law
Komlan Sangbana
Associate Researcher
Faculty of Law and Institute of Environmental Sciences

[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

[MUSIC] Ladies and gentlemen. Hello.

This sequence will focus on the importance of the practice of notification and consultation

over any measures planned along a transboundary watercourse.

So I have already spoken about

the principle of cooperation and the extremely important role that it plays in

water management.

You will remember that, according to

the formula used by the International Court of Justice, water is a shared resource.

So, this obligation to cooperate,

as you know, the obligation to cooperate has different facets.

And one of the facets is

that for any planned measure intended by a State, whether it is a dam,

an irrigation station or an industrial installation,

the State must notify the other riparian States.

The idea is that all riparian States should be notified before

the project is authorised so that they can evaluate

any potential damage to the watercourse.

This is the

the ultimate information transmission tool and is a means of

cooperation which has an important role in preventing

damage to the environment and damage to transboundary watercourses.

Once notification has taken place, other riparian States

will consider the information provided and will

raise any concerns and enter into consultations

or negotiations. We will look at this in another sequence.

So when we talk about notification and consultation,

I think we should turn to the reference legal instrument:

the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational

Uses of International Watercourses. This Convention

has made it possible to codify and to develop

certain aspects of the practice of notification and consultation.

The list of provisions is exhaustive and

is important for understanding notification and consultation.

If I go back to notification, what does that mean?

This means that any State considering a planned measure

(as it is called in the 1997 Convention)

will have to inform the other riparian States.

Even if the planned measure will be carried out by a private actor, this is still the case.

The private actor will not notify the other riparian states.

This would be done by the State (the State who wishes to authorise the measure)

and they will transmit this information to the other riparian States.

That is one aspect I would like to emphasize.

Ultimately, the State has to give notification about

any proposed measure or planned project.

And again, I think that the rule codified in the 1997 Convention is

important. It states: these are the measures likely to produce,

to cause significant damage.

So you see there is a threshold of severity.

Damage is possible and

as such there is a severity threshold beyond which there should be a notification.

And the obvious next question is,

what constitutes significant damage?

And this is a difficulty encountered in water law,

encountered in international environmental law.

And it is true, points of view differ on this concept.

Here we see how important lists are. For example, which planned measures

are likely to cause, to have harmful effects at a

significant, substantial level? This allows us to understand

when notification needs to occur.

We also see the importance of the standards agreed on

by the States of an international watercourse. For example,

knowing which measure might produce

significant damage or which could cause significant damage.

Another aspect that I would like to emphasize

is the fact that the State wishing to authorise the project or planned measure will have to

notify the other riparian States.

However, what happens if the State doesn't do this?

Then the jurisprudence (notably the arbitral tribunal in the

Lake Lanoux case) clearly says that the State that should be notified

has the right to request that the State contemplating authorization

communicates and provides the necessary information.

In the Lake Lanoux example, between Spain and France, this was the case.

France said: This is a project located in my territory and therefore,

I will not notify Spain.

But the arbitral tribunal said: No. Spain has the right to be notified,

Spain has the right to request notification from France.

This arbitral sentence from 1957 is very significant when

trying to understand the principles behind notification and

consultation.

So, the rules are important.

What type of information should

be given to the other riparian States?

Take a look at the provisions of the 1997 Convention. Here it says that

all the important technical information

related to the planned measure must be communicated.

So that's an important aspect.

Another aspect concerns any possible

societal damage or environmental damage

and in these cases, among the information in the notification,

there must be an environmental impact assessment report.

This point is underlined by the 1997 Convention

but it was truly established by the International Court of Justice

in its judgment on the pulp mills.

A notification had to be made by

Uruguay to Argentina and Argentina demanded to

see the impact study.

And the court said, well yes, the impact study has to be

transmitted to the riparian States at the same time as the notification.

So you see, there is a whole set of rules.

Another aspect must be stressed about notification.

Up until now, I have only spoken bilaterally or plurilaterally,

referring to how the notifying State relates to the other riparian States.

If there is a basin organization, the notification can

be done through the basin organization and then the collective body

can disseminate information

to other riparian States.

An example of this procedure taking place through

a basin organization is the Mekong River Basin Treaty.

Now we have spoken about the notification system,

and you understand that once the riparian States receive the notification

they are able to study, analyze the information received.

Eventually, they can communicate their concerns to the State

behind the planned measure.

Once these concerns are communicated, the State behind the planned measure

will be able to enter into consultations, or even conduct negotiations with the

States who raised concerns. The legal aspects of the

consultation and negotiation process will be dealt with

in a seperate sequence which will be presented by Mr. Komlan Sangbana.

I will conclude this sequence by stressing to you the

importance of notification.

It is one facet of cooperation,

cooperation which is necessary between riparian States.

Notification, and I think this should be pointed out,

is really an instrument for preventing possible harm to rivers or

damage to the environment.

And it is always important to remember what was said

by the International Court of Justice

in its judgement on the Pulp Mills when it spoke of this pivotal prevention role, the role played by notification.

Thank you.

MUSIC

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