Annual
Report
2021
Dear colleagues,
The International and Comparative Law Research Center presents its Annual Report for the year 2021, which marked a new milestone in establishing the Center as a leading international and comparative law think tank.
While continuing to pursue previously determined strategic lines, such as trade and investment, digitalization, the Arctic, general issues of international law, consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, we increasingly delved into the sustainable development and energy transition agenda.
Over the year, we have expanded international cooperation, strengthened our internal expertise, and, as an independent analitycal center, received the opportunity to represent our views in various working groups under federal authorities, as well as in international organizations — for example, the ICLRC became the first in Russia to be given the status of UNEP FI Supporting Institution.
In 2021, we joined a government project to adapt the Russian economy to the global energy transition in terms of developing the regulatory framework to implement the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of Russia With a Low Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Until 2050.
We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the topical issues and to communicate our expert message to decision-makers.
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya
General Director
While continuing to pursue previously determined strategic lines, such as trade and investment, digitalization, the Arctic, general issues of international law, consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, we increasingly delved into the sustainable development and energy transition agenda.
Over the year, we have expanded international cooperation, strengthened our internal expertise, and, as an independent analitycal center, received the opportunity to represent our views in various working groups under federal authorities, as well as in international organizations — for example, the ICLRC became the first in Russia to be given the status of UNEP FI Supporting Institution.
In 2021, we joined a government project to adapt the Russian economy to the global energy transition in terms of developing the regulatory framework to implement the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of Russia With a Low Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Until 2050.
We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the topical issues and to communicate our expert message to decision-makers.
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya
General Director
Table of Contents
Highlights of the Year
Annual Report 2021
Major
projects
projects
25%
65%
15%
ECUMENE
Adaptation of the Russian economy to the energy transition
Round tables on the margins of COP26
- Adaptation of the Russian economy to the energy transition 65%Designing national regulations for the transition to low-carbon development
The Roadmap (Operational Plan) on Implementation of the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of Russia With a Low Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Until 2050
Draft federal and regional legal acts in furtherance of the Federal Law No. 296-FZ “On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions”
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya is appointed Executive Secretary of the working group “Stimulating Regulatory Measures” - ECUMENE 25%International congress on sustainable development dedicated to responsible finance issues
With support of the UN, for the first time
68 speakers, including 16 representing the UN institutions
108,000 total attendance - Energy transition
Responsible financing
Sustainable development of the Arctic region
15,000 total attendance
22
65
18
research papers
experts from
countries
Belarus, Brazil, China, France, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA
9
11
14
presentations
more than 123,000 speakers
and listeners from 147 countries
and listeners from 147 countries
5
Russian expert and
advisory bodies
advisory bodies
- WTO Expertise Center
- St. Petersburg State University
- China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Participation in
New status
UNEP FI
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
About
the ICLRC
the ICLRC
Annual Report 2021
The International and Comparative Law Research Center is a non-profit non-governmental organization, a Russian analitycal center with unique expertise and experience in implementation of law projects.
Combining a deep understanding of the Russian state agenda and global trends in the development of law, we find relevant legal solutions that meet modern challenges.
The ICLRC creates a platform for the exchange of views, initiates international dialogue, and takes part in the improvement of national jurisdiction.
Our team provides both expert research support and overall project team management. Project teams consist of the best Russian and foreign experts from various knowledge areas.
Combining a deep understanding of the Russian state agenda and global trends in the development of law, we find relevant legal solutions that meet modern challenges.
The ICLRC creates a platform for the exchange of views, initiates international dialogue, and takes part in the improvement of national jurisdiction.
Our team provides both expert research support and overall project team management. Project teams consist of the best Russian and foreign experts from various knowledge areas.
- The Executive Office of the Government of the Russian Federation
- Gazprombank
- Bank of Russia
- VEB.RF
- UN Goodwill Ambassador Viacheslav Fetisov
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
- The Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic
- The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
- The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
- The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
- The Federal Tax Service
- Administration of the federal territory Sirius
- Gazprom Neft
- MegaFon
- SIBUR
- Member of the International Law Commission Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez
- VNIIOkeangeologia
- Moscow School of Management “SKOLKOVO”
The ICLRC Library
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
«
No nation is immune to the impacts of climate change — at home or abroad. It’s therefore incumbent upon us to address climate change through multilateralism, through the Paris
Agreement.
Agreement.
Patricia Espinosa
Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
»
The ICLRC’s expertise is in high demand by Russian delegations to the most reputable international organizations and bodies, such as UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, International Seabed Authority.
Besides, in 2019, the ICLRC received observer status in three Working Groups of UNCITRAL (the only organization with such a status in three working groups at once). The ICLRC is the first Russian organization that has received the status of the UNEP FI Supporting Institution.
Besides, in 2019, the ICLRC received observer status in three Working Groups of UNCITRAL (the only organization with such a status in three working groups at once). The ICLRC is the first Russian organization that has received the status of the UNEP FI Supporting Institution.
An important area of our work is promotion of the international law studies, within which we hold a Summer School on Public International Law and organize a competition for the International Law in the XXI Century Award. Our unique library provides access to classic and contemporary publications on public and private international law as well as comparative law in various languages, and also to foreign and Russian electronic legal databases.
The UN Commission on International Trade Law
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
Women’s Dialogue on Arctic Development
Photo: Alexandr Cherezov / The Roscongress Foundation
Photo: Alexandr Cherezov / The Roscongress Foundation
«
The question arising is what would the legal outcomes for the outer limits of maritime zones, including territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf, be once coastlines are changing? Shall the outer limits remain unchanged or be adjusted? How to deal with submerging islands and maritime zones around them? There is a dynamic expert discussion on these issues at the moment, particularly, in the International Law Commission. However, this discussion seems to be far from complete.
»
Chair of the Supervisory
Board
Board
Members of the Supervisory Board:
Advisor on Public
International Law
International Law
Head of Sustainable
Development Department
Development Department
Founder:
- Forms the Supervisory Board and appoints its members
- Oversees the ICLRC’s activities
Supreme Collegiate Governing Body:
- Determines the ICLRC’s priority areas of work
- Organizes and supervises the ICLRC’s work, monitors the implementation of the Supervisory Board’s decisions
Sole Executive Body:
- Manages the ICLRC’s current activities
- Ensures implementation of the Supervisory Board’s decisions
Elena Borisenko
Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board, Gazprombank JSC
Ilya Kryzhanovsky
Director, Foundation for Legal Education and Research
Olga Motenko
General Director, Bloom Group Ltd
Igor Rusanov
Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Gazprombank JSC
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya
General Director
Roman Kolodkin
Advisor on Public International Law
Jean-Claude Knebeler
Head of Sustainable Development Department
General Partner
Projects
in 2021
in 2021
Annual Report 2021
«
Today, the global community is facing serious climate challenges that require a coordinated response on both international and national levels. In this regard, it is particularly important to understand regulatory trends and develop relevant legislative solutions in accordance with them.
Ekaterina
Salugina-Sorokovaya
Salugina-Sorokovaya
»
Energy
Transition
Transition
Research and publications
Trade Aspects of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
The Carbon Tax Effect for the Russian Exporters
Decisions of the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26)
Trade Aspects of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
The Carbon Tax Effect for the Russian Exporters
Decisions of the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26)
Events and presentations
Round table on the margins of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
International Climate Dialogues in Moscow. #After_COP26
Round table on the margins of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
International Climate Dialogues in Moscow. #After_COP26
Expert and advisory bodies
Participating in preparing the Roadmap (Operational Plan) on Implementation of the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of Russia With a Low Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Until 2050 within the framework of the government project on adaptation of the Russian economy to the global energy transition (working groups on stimulating regulatory measures, regional aspects of energy transition, and green finance)
Developing draft federal and regional legal acts in furtherance of the Federal Law No. 296-FZ “On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions”
Participating in preparing the Roadmap (Operational Plan) on Implementation of the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of Russia With a Low Level of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Until 2050 within the framework of the government project on adaptation of the Russian economy to the global energy transition (working groups on stimulating regulatory measures, regional aspects of energy transition, and green finance)
Developing draft federal and regional legal acts in furtherance of the Federal Law No. 296-FZ “On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions”
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
«
We have to make sure that sustainable practices become part of the business philosophy in Russia and in the other markets in which we operate. This is the main task for us, and we will work hard to make it happen.
»
Sustainable Development
Research and publications
Climate Change Regulations: Global Practice and Perspectives
Foreign Tax Policies Aimed at Accomodating ESG Factors
Climate Change Regulations: Global Practice and Perspectives
Foreign Tax Policies Aimed at Accomodating ESG Factors
Events and presentations
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
Round tables on the margins of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
SPILF 9 3/4, Climate Change Regulations: Global Practice and Perspectives
St. Petersburg Economic Forum, 2021 Is The Year Of Creative Economy: How Soon Before Human Capital Replaces Petroleum?
Eastern Economic Forum, Climate Change: Is it Still a Question of Money?
Gaidar Forum, Sustainable Development: a Perfect Vision or a Realistic Projection
The International Forum “Ecology”
The Eurasian Women’s Forum, The Role of Women in Solving Climate Challenges
SKOLKOVO Energy Summer School
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
Round tables on the margins of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
SPILF 9 3/4, Climate Change Regulations: Global Practice and Perspectives
St. Petersburg Economic Forum, 2021 Is The Year Of Creative Economy: How Soon Before Human Capital Replaces Petroleum?
Eastern Economic Forum, Climate Change: Is it Still a Question of Money?
Gaidar Forum, Sustainable Development: a Perfect Vision or a Realistic Projection
The International Forum “Ecology”
The Eurasian Women’s Forum, The Role of Women in Solving Climate Challenges
SKOLKOVO Energy Summer School
Expert and advisory bodies
UNEP Finance Initiative
Interagency Working Group on Green Finance
UNEP Finance Initiative
Interagency Working Group on Green Finance
St. Petersburg International Legal Forum
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
«
During the pandemic, the climate received some respite, as industrial production fell, transportation and air traffic volumes decreased, but this is still not enough to reach the targets set by the Paris Agreement.
»
COVID-19
Expert and advisory bodies
The Interagency Working Group on the Issue of Mutual Recognition With Foreign States, Foreign Economical and Political Association on Immunization of Citizens With the Use of Vaccines for the Prevention of a New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) And Results of Laboratory Tests to Identify a New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) By the Polymerase Chain Reaction Method
The Interagency Working Group on the Issue of Mutual Recognition With Foreign States, Foreign Economical and Political Association on Immunization of Citizens With the Use of Vaccines for the Prevention of a New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) And Results of Laboratory Tests to Identify a New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) By the Polymerase Chain Reaction Method
«
… in the absence of the resources necessary for conducting clinical trials, a large number of States are interested in gaining access to vaccines against new infectious diseases, including COVID-19. In this regard, at the international level, the procedure for mutual recognition of studies to register a vaccine could be simplified with the increase of its transparency.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center
»
General Issues
of International Law
of International Law
«
Contemporary international law is characterized by the expansion of its subjective base. This has been the result of the process of self-determination of peoples and of decolonization, which led to the doubling of the number of independent States during the first two decades after World War II. From being essentially Euro- and American-centric, international law now includes States from Asia and Africa with distinct cultural outlooks.
»
The Arctic
«
In our view, conservation of the Arctic is not a solution.
The future is in the development of sustainable activities in this region.
The future is in the development of sustainable activities in this region.
»
ECUMENE International Congress on Sustainable Development
Trade and
Investment
Investment
Research and publications
Appointment of Insolvency Officers in Russia and Foreign Jurisdictions
Cape Town Convention and its Protocols. Advantages and Risks of Joining MAC Protocol
Experimental Legal Regimes in Russia and in Foreign Countries
Analysis of the Beijing Project options (series of analitycal notes)
Analysis of the UNCITRAL Working Documents on Insolvency Law (series of analitycal notes)
COVID-19 and International Investment Law
Appointment of Insolvency Officers in Russia and Foreign Jurisdictions
Cape Town Convention and its Protocols. Advantages and Risks of Joining MAC Protocol
Experimental Legal Regimes in Russia and in Foreign Countries
Analysis of the Beijing Project options (series of analitycal notes)
Analysis of the UNCITRAL Working Documents on Insolvency Law (series of analitycal notes)
COVID-19 and International Investment Law
Expert and advisory bodies
UNCITRAL Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform)
UNCITRAL Working Group VI (Judicial Sale of Ships)
UNCITRAL Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform)
UNCITRAL Working Group VI (Judicial Sale of Ships)
«
… the note [“The Comment to the Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators (UNCITRAL)”] was taken into account while preparing the position of the Russian delegation on 41st session of the UNCITRAL Working Group III.
We also highly appreciate the expert and organizational support of the Russian initiative to study the impact of coronavirus infection on the global trade within the UNCITRAL work.
We also highly appreciate the expert and organizational support of the Russian initiative to study the impact of coronavirus infection on the global trade within the UNCITRAL work.
Lev Gershanok
Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
A letter to the General Director of the ICLRC
A letter to the General Director of the ICLRC
»
Digitalization
Research and publications
Development of the Electronic Document Flow
Analysis of the Draft Model Law on the Use and Cross-border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services (series of analitycal notes)
Development of the Electronic Document Flow
Analysis of the Draft Model Law on the Use and Cross-border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services (series of analitycal notes)
Expert and advisory bodies
UNCITRAL Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce)
Expert Group at the Interagency Working Group on Comprehensive Study of International Legal Aspects of Ensuring International Information Security
UNCITRAL Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce)
Expert Group at the Interagency Working Group on Comprehensive Study of International Legal Aspects of Ensuring International Information Security
«
One of the principles of the Concept [for the development of regulation of relations in the field of AI technologies and robotics until 2024] is the person-oriented approach which provides that the ultimate goal of developing artificial intelligence and robotics technologies is to ensure protection of human rights and freedoms guaranteed by Russian and international law, as well as taking into account both positive and negative international experience of legal regulation.
Alexey Khersontsev
State Secretary — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Digitalization of International Trade
Digitalization of International Trade
»
Promoting
the Study of International Law
the Study of International Law
Annual Report 2021
- 16 applications
- 5 outstanding papers
Annual competition for the best research paper on public international law.
The winner is selected by the Council of the Competition consisting of international law practitioners and scholars.
Participants are the Russian citizens under 35 years old, who completed higher legal education in law and/or hold a postgraduate degree in law.
The Library of the ICLRC assists contestants by providing access to literature for preparation of their papers.
The winner is selected by the Council of the Competition consisting of international law practitioners and scholars.
Participants are the Russian citizens under 35 years old, who completed higher legal education in law and/or hold a postgraduate degree in law.
The Library of the ICLRC assists contestants by providing access to literature for preparation of their papers.
- Upgraded online platform
- 54 applications
- 34 attendees
- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan
Aimed at providing those learning, working, or aspiring to work in the sphere of international law, with an opportunity to obtain advanced knowledge of the subject and encouraging participants to engage in independent research during the meetings with the leading law experts and practitioners in this field.
The Summer School’s curriculum is comprised of lectures and seminars of the general and special courses, independent and collective studying, meetings on international legal issues and entertainment program.
The Summer School’s curriculum is comprised of lectures and seminars of the general and special courses, independent and collective studying, meetings on international legal issues and entertainment program.
34 attendees from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan took part in the Summer School 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, the Summer School was held on a tailor-made online platform.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, the Summer School was held on a tailor-made online platform.
Experts and guests
Rüdiger Wolfrum
Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (1996-2017)
Samuel Wordsworth
QC, specializes in public international law and international arbitration
Anna Joubin-Bret
Secretary of UNCITRAL and the Director of the International Trade Law Division in the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations
Catharine Titi
Tenured Research Associate Professor at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) – CERSA, University Paris II Panthéon-Assas, France
Sergey Usoskin
Russian Attorney (Advocate), specializes in international and cross-border cases
Makane Moïse Mbengue
Professor of international law and Head of the Department of Public International Law and International Organization at the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva; Affiliate Professor at Sciences Po Paris (School of Law)
Roman Kolodkin
Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Martina Polasek
Deputy Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
Evgeny Zagainov
Director, Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
- More than 350 new arrivals
- 114 new electronic books
- 14 foreign and Russian legal databases
- 128 new readers
New services
New partners
- Online appointment for a visit
- Electronic book excerpts delivery
- IMO Maritime Knowledge Center (Malta)
- Peace Palace Library (the Netherlands)
The Center’s Library is open for everyone interested in public and private international law, as well as comparative law: scholars, postgraduates of Russian and foreign universities, students — members of moot court teams, representatives of State authorities.
The Library collection includes both classic and contemporary publications on public and private international law, and comparative law, in various languages, as well as private libraries of prominent Russian international lawyers, Grigory Tunkin and Anatoly Kolodkin.
The Library’s visitors have access to Russian and foreign electronic legal databases containing books, periodicals, legislative texts, and case law.
The Library’s collection is constantly replenished with due regard to the needs and recommendations of researchers and readers. Besides, our guests and partners make valuable contributions to the library.
The Library collection includes both classic and contemporary publications on public and private international law, and comparative law, in various languages, as well as private libraries of prominent Russian international lawyers, Grigory Tunkin and Anatoly Kolodkin.
The Library’s visitors have access to Russian and foreign electronic legal databases containing books, periodicals, legislative texts, and case law.
The Library’s collection is constantly replenished with due regard to the needs and recommendations of researchers and readers. Besides, our guests and partners make valuable contributions to the library.
Международная морская организация
The Library develops professional contacts with Russian and foreign partners:
Also, the Library provided additional information support to the students of Roman Kolodkin’s course on the peaceful settlement of interstate disputes of HSE University master’s program: it provided books, articles, digital materials from databases the ICLRC has subscription to.
- The Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva
- The Department of Political Science and International Relations Library, the University of Geneva
- The Swiss Institute of Comparative Law Library
- The Library of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
- The Peace Palace Library
- The University of Angers Library
- The Library of the Faculty of Law of the St. Petersburg State University
- The Library of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Also, the Library provided additional information support to the students of Roman Kolodkin’s course on the peaceful settlement of interstate disputes of HSE University master’s program: it provided books, articles, digital materials from databases the ICLRC has subscription to.