CYIL vol. 12 (2021)

Preface

Dear Readers, It is with great pleasure that I introduce the twelfth issue of the Czech Yearbook of Public&Private International Law (CYIL). Volume 12 appears, as usual, in the autumn, which is the typical time for the readers of this Yearbook who are interested in the developments in international law. We did our best to meet this expectation even in 2021 which is the second year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Czech Yearbook was established by the Czech Society of International Law in 2010. It was done thanks to the Board and the members of this association of Czech international lawyers, both academics and practitioners, who felt a lacuna of such a specialized journal or yearbook. Since 2014, the Czech Yearbook has been published by the international publishers, rw&w, Science & New Media, Passau-Berlin-Praha, which, in cooperation with Südost Service GmbH, ensures its distribution in Germany and Western Europe. As you know, the CSIL publishes the Yearbook in both printed and electronic versions ( www.cyil.eu ). Since 2015, the Czech Yearbook has been included in the Czech index of scholarly peer-reviewed journals (RVVI) and in the SCOPUS international database. This growth of the Czech Yearbook ranks it among the larger publications of its kind in an international comparison. However, in spite of the higher publishing costs, we are proud to announce that this publication is still available for free for members of the Czech Society of International Law (included in the membership fee) and on sale for a very reasonable price. The Czech Yearbook, in spite of its difficult beginnings, has succeeded in attracting a sufficient number of authors and readers in the Czech Republic and abroad. It found its place among other similar publications on international law. As usual, Volume 12 (2021) presents a variety of studies and articles covering many issues of contemporary international and European law. The Yearbook begins with the Symposium on the anniversary of codification of the law of diplomatic relations (Vienna Convention, 1961) and State responsibility (ARSIWA, 2001). However, its purpose is not just to commemorate these important codification documents. The articles in this section address some topical issues from the perspective of the current practice of international law. Other contributions include various subjects, ranging from the history of international law (the mechanism of the protection of minorities within the League of Nations), through pre-emptive self-defence in cyberspace, to the self-judging reservation to declaration of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. The readers will also find many other traditional sections here, including human rights, international humanitarian law, and criminal law. These sections include articles on various subjects, such as Covid restrictions of the freedom of movement, the right to health, public corporations under the ECHR, Nuremberg Principles as the basis of international criminal law, and accountability for crimes against children in armed conflict. As in the previous years, the CYIL also presents a section on international law and EU law with five articles on a wide range of issues, including the enhanced cooperation and inter se agreements adopted by some EU Member States, the influence of EU law on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights regarding family migration, or the role

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