CYIL vol. 16 (2025)

PREFACE

Dear Readers, I have great pleasure to introduce already the sixteenth issue of the Czech Yearbook of Public & Private International Law (CYIL). Volume 16 appears, as usual, at the end of autumn, which is the typical time for the readers of this Yearbook who are interested in the developments in international law. 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 Süd Ost Service, 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 significant rise of 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. We will allow for the full open access of the electronic version. This year’s 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations is certainly a good reason to remember 1945 as a legal landmark in international law. At the moment when the UN celebrated its 80th anniversary, it is experiencing another period of crisis. Similar to the Cold War, the collective security mechanism (Security Council) is blocked, while armed conflicts are ongoing in various parts of the world, including Europe (Ukraine). The system of multilateralism on which the UN is built is being severely undermined by the policies of the current governments of some great powers (especially Russia, the USA, but also China). However, the organization is also suffering from a serious financial crisis (unpaid contributions), which is crippling its functioning, leading to the cancellation or shortening of some meetings, the reduction of jobs in the secretariat and the limitation of other activities. The significance of the Charter and the functioning of the Organization currently represent complex issues that have been the subject of publications other than this issue of the Czech Yearbook. However, this issue also contains contributions that map the current activities of the UN in the field of codification and progressive development of international law, particularly within the framework of the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly. As usual, Volume 16 (2025) presents a variety of studies and articles covering many issues of contemporary international and European law. The Yearbook begins with the studies that address issues related to the International Court of Justice, both the methods of work and the substance, namely the presentation of the recent Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States

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