International custom remains one of the most important sources of international law despite the codification of the law and the numerous international agreements concluded between the different actors of the international community However, uncertainties still remain in relation to several of its aspects, including its formation, evidence and the relationship between its two constituent elements, that is, State practice and opinion juris. This presents challenges to national and international judges when called upon to identify and apply the rules of customary international law. With a view to addressing these grey areas, the Council of Europe ad hoc Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France organised a conference on “The Judge and International Custom” where important contributions were made by international and national judges clarifying some aspects of this topical issue. This volume contains these contributions, supplemented with articles commissioned by the CAHDI from some of the highest judges at international and national level. The collection highlights the valuable contribution made by the CAHDI to the development of public international law and in particular to the work of the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly by participating proactively in the legal debate to establish a well-defined international legal framework for this topical issue.

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In a political climate which encourages interdependece between States, international law is steadily developing and increasingly becoming a key factor in the orgaisation of inter-State relations. This concept of interdependence implies a strong commitment by all States to international law and a shared responsibility for its application. Through the ad hoc Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI), the Council of Europe contributes to the implementation of public internaitonal law and further acts as a catalyst for its development of public internaitonal law, functioning notably as The European Observatory of Reservations to International Treaties, a unique and flagship function aknowledged today by other regional organisations. The CAHDI also acts as a laboratory and a catalyst for new ideas.

This volume, containing tought-provoking essays by former and current Legal Advisers from a wide selection of Council of Europe countries, arose from the conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CAHDI meetings and showcases CAHDI's pioneering work.

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The impact of the European convention on Human rights is not limited to general international law, it is also important on such diverse areas as the principles of state responsibility, the interpretation of treaties, and environment protection.

With this report the CAHDI contributed to the celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Pilot Project on State Practice regarding State Succession and Issues of Recognition carried out under the aegis of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI) encompasses the practice of sixteen member States of the Council of Europe and provides significant information about these States' position vis-à-vis the new European architecture following the developments of 1989.

On the basis of the information gathered, the CAHDI decided on the preparation of a report by the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, the T.M.C. Asser Institute and the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights.

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