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Mr. Andres Rigo Sureda

Mr. Andrés Rigo Sureda
Former Acting Vice President and
General Counsel
World Bank

Biography Biography in PDF format

Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations
International Financial Institutions
The lecture considers issues specific to the World Bank as an international organization (i.e. interpretation of constitutive instrument, State succession, relationship with UN). It also discusses issues related to the World Bank’s operations (i.e. applicable law, projects on international waterways, or in disputed areas, human rights and accountability).

International Law Aspects of the
World Bank and its Operations, Part I
Video | Audio
(11/4/2008, 35 minutes)

International Law Aspects of the
World Bank and its Operations, Part II
Video | Audio
(11/4/2008, 36 minutes)

International Law Aspects of the
World Bank and its Operations, Part III
Video | Audio
(11/4/2008, 47 minutes)

Recording facilities courtesy of
Georgetown University Law Center
Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations
International Financial Institutions
International Law Aspects of the World Bank and its Operations
Outline of Lecture PDF document (12.8 KB)
A. Legal Instruments
Articles of Agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bretton Woods, 27 December 1945, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2, p. 134.

Charter of the United Nations, San Francisco, 26 June 1945.

Agreement Establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Paris, 29 May 1990, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1646, p. 97.

Agreement establishing the Asian Development Bank, Manila, 4 December 1965, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 571, p. 123 & vol. 608, p. 380.

Agreement Establishing the African Development Bank, Khartoum, 4 August 1963, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1276, p. 3.

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Vienna, 23 May 1969, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1155, p. 331.

Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties, Vienna, 23 August 1978, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1946, p. 3.

Agreement between the United Nations and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 16 September 1947, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 16, p. 346.
B. Jurisprudence
Permanent Court of International Justice, Case Concerning the Payment of Various Serbian Loans Issued in France, Judgment of 12 July 1929, P.C.I.J.Series A., Nos. 20/21.

Permanent Court of International Justice, Case Concerning the Payment in Gold of Brazilian Federal Loans Issued in France, Judgment of 12 July 1929, P.C.I.J.Series A., Nos. 20/21.

International Court of Justice, Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, Advisory Opinion of 11 April 1949, I.C.J. Reports 1949, p. 174.
C. Documents
D. Doctrine

H. Bitterman, “Negotiation of the Articles of Agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Lawyer, vol. 5, pp. 59-88.

L. Boisson de Chazournes, “Policy Guidance and Compliance: the World Bank Operational Standards”, in D. Shelton (ed.), The Role of Non-binding Norms in the International Legal System, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000, pp. 281-302.

D. Bradlow, “The World Bank, the IMF, and Human Rights”, Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, vol. 6, 1996, pp. 47-90.

A. Broches, Selected Essays. World Bank, ICSID, and Other Subjects of Public and Private International Law, Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 1995.

A. Broches, “International Legal Aspects of the Operations of the World Bank”, Recueil des Cours, vol. 98, 1959, pp. 297-409.

R. Delaurne, Legal Aspects of International Lending and Economic Development Financing, Oceana Publications, Dobbs Ferry, 1967.

R. Delaurne, “Issues of Applicable Law in the Context of the World Bank’s Operations”, in Horn/Schmitthoff (eds.), The Transnational Law of International Commercial Transactions, Deventer/Kluwer, London, 1982.

C. Di Leva, “International Environmental Law and Development”, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, vol. 10, 1998, p. 501.

A. A. Fatouros, “The World Bank Impact on International Law; a Case Study in the International Law of Cooperation”, in G.M. Wilner (ed.), Jus et Societas: Essays in Tribute to Wolfgang Friedmann, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1979, pp. 62-95.

L. Forget, “Continuation et succession dans les organismes financières internationales: l’expérience de la Banque mondiale”, in G. Burdeau/B. Stern, Dissolution, continuation et succession en Europe de l’Est, Cedin-Paris I, Paris, 1994.

L. Forget, “Le ‘Panel D’Inspection’ de la Banque Mondiale”, A.F.D.I, vol. 42, 1996, pp. 645-661.

D. Freestone, “The World Bank’s Prototype Carbon Fund: Mobilizing New Resources for Sustainable Development”, in S. Schlemmer-Schulte/K. Tung (eds.), Liber Amicorum Ibrahim F. I. Shihata: International Finance and Development Law, Kluwer Law International, London/Boston/New York, 2001, pp. 265-341.

J. Gold, “Trust Funds in International Law: The Contribution of the International Monetary Fund to a Code of Principles, American Journal of International Law, vol. 72, 1978, pp 856-866.

H. Handl, Multilateral Development Banking. Environmental Principles and Concepts Reflecting General International Law and Public Policy, Kluwer Law International, The Hague/London/Boston, 2001.

J. W. Head, “Evolution of the Governing Law for Loan Agreements of the World Bank and Other Multilateral Development Banks”, American Journal of International Law, vol. 90, 1996, pp. 214-234.

J. E. Hickey, “The Sources of International Legal Personality in the 21st Century”, Hofstra Law and Policy Symposium, vol. 2, 1997. p. 1.

M. Hurlock, “New Approaches to economic development: the World Bank, the EBRD and the negative pledge clause”, Harvard International Law Journal, vol. 35, 1994, p. 345.

C. W. Jenks, The Proper Law of International Organisations, Stevens & Sons / Oceana Publications, London/Dobbs Ferry, 1962.

D. Kapur/J.P. Lewis/R. Webb (eds.), The World Bank. Its First Half Century, Brookings Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1997.

D. L. Kairallah, “International Finance Corporation” in R Blanpain (ed.), International Encyclopaedia of Laws (Intergovernmental Organizations – Suppl. 12), Kluwer Law International, The Hague/London/New York, 2002.

E. Lauterpacht, “The Development of the Law of International Organisations by the Decisions of International Tribunals, Recueil des Cours, vol. 152, pp. 377-478.

F. A. Mann, “Money in Public International Law”, Recueil des Cours, vol. 96, 1959, pp. 7-124.

F. A. Mann, “The Proper Law of Contracts concluded by International Persons”, British Yearbook of International Law, vol. 35, 1959, pp. 34-53.

E. S. Mason/E. Asher, The World Bank since Bretton Woods, The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., 1973.

H. Morais, “World Bank Promotion of Private Investment Flows to Developing Countries through Cofinancing and Other Measures”, ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal, vol. 3, pp. 1-37.

S. J. Rubin (ed.), Foreign Development Lending – Legal Aspects. Papers and Proceedings of a conference sponsored by the American Society of International Law, A.W. Sijthoff / Oceana Publications, Leiden/Dobbs Ferry, 1971.

F. Morgenstern, Legal Problems of International Organisations, Grotius Publications Ltd., Cambridge, 1986.

A. R. Sureda, “The World Bank and Institutional Innovations”, in E.B. Weiss/A.R. Sureda/L. Boisson de Chazournes (eds.), The World Bank, International Financial Institutions, and the Development of International Law, The American Society of International Law, Studies in Transnational Legal Policy No. 31, 1999.

A. R. Sureda, “El Banco Mundial y los Bancos Regionales de Desarrollo”, in: Inter-American Juridical Committee of the Organization of American States, Curso de Dereco Internacional XXVII, 2001.

A. R. Sureda, “Process Integrity and Institutional Independence in International Organizations: The Inspection Panel and the Sanctions Committee of the World Bank”, in L. Boisson de Chazournes/C. Romano/R. Mackenzie (eds.), International Organizations and International Dispute Settlement: Trends and Prospects, Transnational Publishers, Ardsley, 2002.

A. R. Sureda, “Informality and Effectiveness in the Operation of the World Bank”, Journal of International Economic Law, vol. 6, 2003, p. 565.

A. R. Sureda, “The Law Applicable to the Activities of International Development Banks”, Recueil des Cours, vol. 308, 2005, pp. 1-251.

S. J. Rubin (ed.), Foreign Development Lending – Legal Aspects. Papers and Proceedings of a conference sponsored by the American Society of International Law, A.W. Sijthoff / Oceana Publications, Leiden/Dobbs Ferry, 1971.

S. A. M. Salman/L. Boisson de Chazournes, International Watercourses. Enhancing Cooperation and Managing Conflict, World Bank Technical Paper No. 414, 1998.

P. H. Sand, “Trusts for the Earth: New Financial Mechanisms for International Environmental Protection”, in: Transnational Environmental Law. Lessons in Global Change, Kluwer Law International, The Hague/London/Boston, 1999.

J. S. Sanders, “Natural Advantage, Values, and Community: EBRD and the Former Yugoslavia”, ASIL Proceedings 2001, pp. 245-250.

A. P. Sereni, “International Economic Institutions and the Municipal Law of States”, Recueil des Cours, vol. 96, 1959, pp. 133-235.

F. Seyersted, “Applicable Law in Relations between Intergovernmental Organizations and Private Parties”, Recueil des Cours, vol. 122, 1967, pp. 433-624.

I. F. I. Shihata, The World Bank in a Changing World, vols. I, II and III, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1991, 1995 and 2000 respectively.

I. F. I. Shihata, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and Foreign Investment, Martinus Nijhoff, Dordecht/Boston/Lancaster, 1988.

I. F. I. Shihata, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: A Comparative Analysis of the Constituent Agreement, Martinus Nijhoff/Graham & Trotman, 1991.

I. F. I. Shihata, The World Bank Legal Papers, Kluwer Law International, The Hague, 2000.

I. F. I. Shihata, The World Bank Inspection Panel: In Practice, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, New York, 2000.

I. F. I. Shihata, I.H. Abushakra and H.J. Gruss, “Legal Aspects of the World Bank’s Assistance to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip”, The Palestine Yearbook of International Law, vol. 7, 1992/1994, pp. 19-43.

S. M. Schwebel (ed.), The Effectiveness of International Decisions. Papers and Proceedings of a conference sponsored by the American Society of International Law, A.W. Sijthoff /Oceana Publications, Leiden/Dobbs Ferry, 1971.

J. Syz, International Development Banks, Oceana Publications/A.W. Sijthoff, Leiden/Dobbs Ferry, 1974.