| |
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court and to Articles 31,
44, 45, paragraph 1, 48 and 49 of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Application filed in the Registry of the Court on 21
December 2009, whereby the Kingdom of Belgium instituted proceedings against
the Swiss Confederation in respect of a dispute concerning
“the interpretation and application of the Lugano Convention of 16 September
1988 on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and
commercial matters . . ., as well as the application of the rules of general
international law governing the exercise of State authority, in particular
in judicial matters . . . [and relating] to the decision by Swiss courts not
to recognize a judgment of the Belgian courts and not to stay proceedings
which were later initiated in Switzerland on the subject of the same
dispute”;
Whereas on 21 December 2009 a certified copy of the Application was
transmitted to the Swiss Confederation;
Whereas the Kingdom of Belgium has appointed Mr. Paul Rietjens as Agent; and
whereas the Swiss Confederation has appointed H.E. Mr. Valentin Zellweger as
Agent;
Whereas, in its Application, the Kingdom of Belgium requested that the case
be heard by a chamber of the Court, in accordance with Article 26,
paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Statute of the Court and Article 17 of the Rules
of Court;
Whereas, at a meeting held by the President of the Court with the Agents of
the Parties on 4 February 2010, the Agent of the Swiss Confederation
indicated that his Government preferred the case to be decided by the full
Court; whereas, since Article 26, paragraph 3, of the Statute requires the
agreement of the parties for a particular case to be brought before a
chamber of the Court, it will be for the full Court to deal with the present
case;
Whereas, in addition, at the same meeting, the Agents of the Parties
indicated that, taking into account the wish of their respective Governments
to see the case dealt with as soon as possible, the latter had come to an
agreement that the Parties should each have a period of eight months at
their disposal, from the filing of the Application, in which to prepare
their respective written pleadings;
Taking into account the agreement of the Parties and the circumstances of
the case,
Fixes the following time-limits for the filing of the written pleadings:
23 August 2010 for the Memorial of the Kingdom of Belgium;
25 April 2011 for the Counter-Memorial of the Swiss Confederation; and
Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, at the
Peace Palace, The Hague, this fourth day of February, two thousand and ten,
in three copies, one of which will be placed in the archives of the Court
and the others transmitted to the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium and
the Government of the Swiss Confederation, respectively.
(Signed) Hisashi OWADA,
President.
(Signed) Philippe COUVREUR,
Registrar.
|
|
