Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)
Outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines:
Submissions to the Commission: Joint submission by France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
[ Home ] [ ADVICE & ASSISTANCE ] [ FUNCTIONS OF THE CLCS ] [ GUIDELINES ] [ RULES OF PROCEDURE ] [ VOLUNTARY FUND FOR MEMBERS ] [ TRUST FUND TO ASSIST STATES ] [ SECRETARIAT OF THE CLCS ] [ ISSUES - ARTICLE 4 OF ANNEX II TO UNCLOS ] [ CONTINENTAL SHELF ] [ SUBMISSIONS TO THE CLCS ] [ CLCS MEMBERS ] [ TRUST FUNDS ] [ CLCS DOCUMENTS ]
On 19 May 2006, France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland submitted through the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, in accordance with Article 76, paragraph 8 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, information on the limits of the continental shelf appurtenant to France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as the "four coastal States") that lie beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial seas of these four coastal States are measured in the portion of the continental shelf in the area of the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay.
It is noted that the Convention entered into force for France on 11 May 1996, for Ireland on 21 July 1996, for Spain on 14 February 1997 and for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 24 August 1997.
The notes accompanying the submission state that "[t]he enclosed submission is of a joint nature, comprising a single project prepared collectively and collaboratively by the four coastal States. For each of these four coastal States the enclosed joint submission represents a partial submission in respect of a portion only of the outer limits of the continental shelf appurtenant to all four coastal States that lie beyond 200 nautical miles from their baselines from which the breadth of their respective territorial seas are measured. This portion of shelf is not the subject of any dispute and, in the view of the four coastal States, its consideration by the Commission will not prejudice matters relating to the delimitation of boundaries between the four coastal States and any other States".
The notes accompanying the submission also state that "[i]n accordance with paragraph 3 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, in order not to prejudice unresolved questions relating to the delimitation of boundaries between France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and some of their neighbours in other portions of the continental shelf appurtenant to France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, submissions for those portions shall be made at a later date".
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, a communication is about to be circulated to all Member States of the United Nations, as well as States Parties to the Convention, in order to make public the executive summary of the submission, as well as all charts and coordinates contained in that summary.
The consideration of the submission made by France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was included in the provisional agenda of the eighteenth session of the Commission which was held in New York from 21 August to 15 September 2006. Upon completion of the consideration of the submission, the Commission shall make recommendations to these States pursuant to article 76 of the Convention.
On 24 March 2009, the Commission adopted the “Recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in regard to the Joint Submission made by France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of the area of the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay on 19 May 2006. Pursuant to article 6, paragraph 3, of annex II to the Convention, the recommendations, including a summary thereof, were submitted in writing to the four coastal States and to the Secretary-General.
Summary of the Recommendations (2009)
Pursuant to section V. paragraph 11 (3) of Annex III to the Rules of Procedures of the Commission, the summary of the Recommendations is hereby made public.
Summary of the Recommendations
Submission (2006)
Note:
The designations employed in the submissions, including description of the areas, are as contained in the communications from submitting States or in the executive summaries. Their listing on this web site and the presentation of material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
|