Schutzklauseln als Grenzpunkte internationaler Integration

What is the value of a treaty if a suspension of essential obligations remains possible? The study approaches this question by a comparative legal analysis of Art. 4 ICCPR, Art. 15 ECHR and Art. XIX GATT. For this purpose, it analyses the history of their origin, the derogation practice and their jurisdiction. This leads to the study’s initial hypothesis that safeguard clauses favour the existence of international treaties and even deepen them. This thesis is then examined on a theoretical basis. The study shows how the legal way of dealing with exceptional circumstances favours the existence and deepening of the treaties. This leads to the study’s main thesis: Law can be ascribed an integration function. Thus, the work contributes to the research field "Integration through Law" from a jurisprudential perspective.