Reviewed case brief

North Sea Continental Shelf Cases (Federal Republic of Germany v Denmark; Federal Republic of Germany v Netherlands)

ICJ Reports 1969, p 3

## Summary

PILcustomopinio-jurisstate-practicecontinental-shelfequidistance
Court
International Court of Justice
Year
1969
Subjects
Public International Law
Reviewed
2026-06-18

Rule established

A treaty rule crystallises into customary international law only if norm-creating in character and followed by widespread, representative state practice accompanied by opinio juris sive necessitatis.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        ICJ Reports 1969, p 3; verified via ICJ database

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.