paragraph 246 in volume 2, chapter 15, Advisory Jurisdiction
As stated, the Court cannot normally consider the discretionary aspect of the advisory competence until it is satisfied that it has jurisdiction to give a reply to the question put to it. It is otherwise when the Court raises the questions proprio motu.
It follows from the Statute, and has been emphasized in the case law, that the Court’s discretion is a double one. The permissive wording of Article 65 gives the Court a general discretion whether or not to answer the qu…