Bilateral Two countries are involved.
Binding rules Rules which have to be followed up.
Civil law Body of laws of a state regulating ordinary private matters.
Continental Of the European Continent.
Customary Defined by long-continued practices.
Directive A measure binding on the member states of the EU.
Espoo Town in Finland; name of Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context
Formal Conforming to accepted rules or customs; showing or requiring formality.
Hard law The body of binding and enforceable laws.
Informal Not formal; without formality or ceremony. See formal.
Customary international law Old, not written rules of certain (good) behavior or relations between states.
Multilateral More than three countries are involved.
Negotiations A process of reaching an agreement or arrangement by discussion.
Public law Branch of law dealing with the legal relationships between the state and individuals and with the relations among governmental agencies. See administrative law
Quasi-legal A type of regulatory instrument, rule or regulation with strong legal aspects but without any binding force; mostly recom-mendations.
Ratification Parliamentary approval of a convention.
Regional Concerning two or more countries within the same geographic region.
Soft law International regulations which are not binding and cannot be enforced.
Transboundary Across borders.
Trilateral Three countries are involved.
Vienna Convention Rules for governments on how to deal with treaties.