Obligation to Comply With Icj Decisions: The "Jurisdictional Immunities" Saga Within the Italian Legal Order

Abstract

The 2012 judgment of the International Court of Justice in "Jurisdictional Immunities" concerned the application of state immunities in Italian courts and its failure to recognize the rights of Germany in this regard. Once the ICJ found Italy in violation of international customary law and ordered that relevant judicial decisions should cease to have effect, Article 94 of the UN Charter providing for the obligation to comply with ICJ decisions began to apply. The paper tracks down attempts to implement "Jurisdictional Immunities" in the Italian legal regime, analyses different – legislative and judicial – means of compliance, and presents general observations on the complexity associated with the fulfilment of the obligation to comply.