New York, USA | 30 October 2026
Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, Director of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), attended a side event held during International Law Week at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 30 October 2026, entitled “Non-Legally Binding International Agreements in Light of Contemporary Practice and the Work of the International Law Commission.”
Organized by the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations, the event brought together distinguished members of the International Law Commission (ILC), leading academics and international law practitioners to examine the role and legal significance of non-legally binding international agreements in contemporary international practice.
The programme featured opening remarks by Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, President of the International Law Commission, and contributions from prominent experts in international law. Among the speakers were Professor Mathias Forteau, Special Rapporteur of the ILC on non-legally binding international agreements; Professor Duncan Hollis of Temple University; Professor Photini Pazartzis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Dr Artemis Papanathassiou, Head of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece; and Professor Keun-Gwan Lee of Seoul National University and Member of the ILC.
The discussions addressed the diverse forms and meanings of agreements in international law, the legal implications of non-binding instruments, and the relationship between binding and non-binding commitments. Particular attention was devoted to the work of the International Law Commission in this area, including its efforts to develop draft conclusions that contribute to greater legal clarity and guidance for States and international organizations.
Professor Flogaitis’s participation reflects EPLO’s continued engagement with contemporary developments in international law and the work of international institutions, as well as its commitment to fostering dialogue on the evolving legal frameworks governing international cooperation.
