The Extension of the Jurisdiction of the Coastal States in the Adriatic Sea

Although the new/revised law of the sea applies to the Adriatic, as to all other seas and oceans, the specific characteristics of this sea and of the coastal States prevent some of the major innovations adopted at UNCLOS III from being applied. There are no archipelagic States and archipelagic waters in the Adriatic, and the continental shelves of the coastal States do not leave any part of the Adriatic seabed and its subsoil to be considered the common heritage of mankind and part of the international seabed - the Area.// All the other international regimes, principles and rules can be applied in the Adriatic, as in all other seas. However, it is natural that not all the States in the area have the same positions in the interpretation and application of the provisions of the LOS Convention. Not all of them share the same interpretation of the provisions on the delimitation of the marine areas, on the establishment of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and none has proclaimed its cotiguous zone.// This paper discusses the attitude of the coastal States in the Adriatic towards one of the major innovations adopted at UNCLOS III - the regime of the exclusive economic zone.