The 1968 Brussels convention and liability for nuclear damage

The legal regime governing civil liability for transboundary nuclear damage is expressly addressed by two instruments adopted in the 1960's: the 1960 Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the field of Nuclear Energy and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. This paper begins by summarizing the approach of the Paris and Vienna Conventions. It then analyses the jurisdictional rules applicable to accidents and damage occurring in States which are not party to one of the two dedicated international nuclear regimes, concentrating the attention on the rules applicable in the European context, rules which can be found in the 1968 Brussels Convention. Finally it looks at the solutions given to some of the issues analysed in this article, issues addressed by the Irish courts in a ongoing case. (A.L.B.)