Notes on External Powers of Autonomous Institutional Arrangements

The primary aim of this article is to analyze the external powers of the Autonomous Institutional Arrangements (AIAS), with a particular focus on their treaty-making powers. AIAs represent a largely overlooked phenomenon in contemporary international institutional law, yet by the will of States they possess and exercise certain powers. These include not only internal (pro foro interno) powers but also significant external (pro foro externo) powers, such as law-making powers and treaty-making powers. This enables AIAs, much like international organizations, to influence the evolution and development of modern international law. Examining the legal status of such bodies must be based on the rules of the law of treaties and international institutional law. Such a discussion is necessary insofar as academic research should answer the needs of international practice. Moreover, in Polish international law scholarship, these issues remain underexplored, highlighting the need for further study.