The Arctic and Maritime Law
Sea Boundaries, Continental Shelf Claims, and Traffic Law
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The Arctic has become a political issue. The countries bordering on the Arctic Sea are striving to expand their rights of use in terms of space and content. Expanded continental shelves, complicated sea boundaries, shipping and research rights, and environmental obligations are determined, in the interest of the international community, according to the rules of the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. The mechanism for a peaceful resolution exists. The countries that do not border on the Arctic – including the countries of the European Union – as well as the International Seabed Au-thority must defend their rights and obligations in the Arctic Ocean vis-à-vis the regionalisation efforts of the countries that do border on the Arctic Sea.
(Osteuropa 2-3/2011, pp. 57–76)