03/05/2026
On 21 April 2026, the Department of International Law at the Faculty of Law, Charles University, in cooperation with the Czech Society for International Law, hosted a lecture by Prof. Filip Křepelka on “Legal Regimes of the Arctic and Antarctica.”
Prof. Křepelka explored the historical development and scientific importance of the polar regions, as well as the range of activities taking place there, particularly settlement and research. He also addressed key legal questions, including the demilitarisation of the polar regions and issues of statehood relating to certain Arctic territories and Antarctica, with particular attention to Greenland.
The lecture further introduced the main international actors in the region, such as the Arctic Council, NATO, and the UN, and examined their roles in the current geopolitical context. Special attention was given to the Czech Republic’s involvement in polar research, including its research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as its unique status as the only landlocked state with consultative status under the Antarctic Treaty.
The discussion that followed focused on the system of inspections of polar stations and on the role of Czech researchers in negotiating cooperation agreements with Argentina and Chile. It also touched upon President Petr Pavel’s recent visit to Argentina.
