The extension of coastal States’ jurisdiction in the Mediterranean:open issues and their impact on subregional co‐operation

The delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean isparticularly complex, both for geographical and political reasons. Such a complexity probably explains the peculiar legal picture currently emerging from the Mediterranean practice concerning the expansion of coastal States’ jurisdiction. Differently from what happened in the other semi‐enclosed seas, the majority of Mediterranean coastal States have refrained from establishing full‐fledged exclusive economic zones (EEZs), though in recent times one may notice a “new wave” of proclamations and the adoption of the first delimitation agreements specifically concerning the EEZ. What chiefly characterizes the practice of Mediterranean States is the establishment of maritime zones of a special character and of various denomination (zones of ecological protection; fisheries conservation zones; etc.) in which they claim only some of the rights stemming from the legal regime of the EEZ under international law. This paper intends to illustrate the practice ofMediterranean States with respect to the institution and delimitation of zones of national jurisdiction and to highlight the main areas of dispute between the States concerned; this also in order to assess the impact of unsettled delimitation issues on the development and effectiveness of forms of regional cooperation for the protection of the environment and of natural resources.