Introduction

Succession between international organizations is a controversial topic. When the International Law Commission discussed adding the issue to its long-term program of work in 1971, it came to the conclusion that ‘the scope for codification and progressive development of the law with regard to this matter would appear to be limited,’ and that consequently there was no need to consider the subject any further. ¹ It took an even more negative stance in 1982, declaring that ‘strictly speaking, there can never be a “succession” of organizations.’ ²