Stichting Natuur en Milieu v. Minister of Transport and Waterworks

Abstract

Environment — Maritime — Discharge of noxious waste at sea — Ministerial exemption granting permission to discharge waste in North Sea — Compatibility with Netherlands Marine Pollution Act 1975 — Exemption for mixtures containing no more than a “trace” of noxious substance — Interpretation by reference to travaux préparatoires of London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by the Dumping of Wastes, 1972 — Compatibility with Oslo Convention on Marine Pollution, 1972, Article 9 — Non-application of “informal” prior consultation procedure

Treaties — Effect in municipal law — Whether possessing direct effect — Application by municipal courts — Complaint of non-application of treaty provision by contracting State — Whether justiciable by municipal courts — Complaint of non-application of agreed “informal” consultation procedure — Relevance of non-application of procedure by other contracting parties — Oslo Convention on Marine Pollution, 1972 — The law of the Netherlands