Bogdan Aurescu takes over the mandate at the UN International Court of Justice

Bogdan Aurescu begins his mandate as a judge of the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, thus becoming the first Romanian to hold this position.

Bogdan Aurescu took the oath to take over the position of judge of the International Court of Justice, won in November 2023, by the vote of the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, against a Russian candidate.

In the UN system, the position of judge at the International Court of Justice is equivalent to that of the UN Deputy Secretary-General. Also, for the first time since the establishment of the Court, Russia no longer has a judge at the ICJ.

The head of state signed the decree for the release of former minister Bogdan Aurescu from the position of presidential adviser, on February 1, 2024, upon request.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, was elected, on November 9, 2023, by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations, as a Judge of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, for a term that begins on of February 6, 2024.

The former minister was supported for the position by a coalition of various states. The countries that co-nominated him were the Netherlands, Italy, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and New Zealand.

ICJ judges are elected for nine years by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council from a list of candidates.

“It is a great honor to take the oath today in the Great Hall of the Palace of Justice of the Peace in The Hague, as a Judge of the International Court of Justice. Proud to be the first Romanian judge of the World Court since its creation in 1945”, sent Bogdan Aurescu in a post on the X platform.

Ready to serve with all my powers&expertise the ideal of international peace&security through the strict&fair application of international law. The oath taken today will be my guide: “(…) I will perform my duties & exercise my powers (…) honorably, faithfully, impartially & conscientiously”! pic.twitter.com/yFxC4885M4

— Bogdan Aurescu (@BogdanAurescu) February 6, 2024

Who is Bogdan Aurescu?

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, in the period 2014-2015, but also in the period 2019-2023, was also the Agent of Romania for the International Court of Justice since September 2004.

Bogdan Aurescu is also a member of the Venice Commission (substitute member since 2002). He is also a member of the UN International Law Commission, serving his second term.

Aurescu is also a university professor in the Public Law Department of the Faculty of Law – University of Bucharest, where he teaches Public International Law, International Organizations and Relations, International Jurisdictions (throughout his academic career he also taught Diplomatic and Consular Law and Law International of the Protection of Minorities and other disciplines).

The former minister takes over the mandate at the ICJ PHOTO Inquam Photos / Archive