Arbitration Between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia
On 4 November 2009, the Prime Ministers of Croatia and Slovenia signed an Arbitration Agreement, by which Croatia and Slovenia submitted their territorial and maritime dispute to arbitration. The Arbitration Agreement was subsequently ratified by Croatia and Slovenia in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
Article 3 of the Arbitration Agreement tasks the Arbitral Tribunal to determine (a) “the course of the maritime and land boundary between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia”; (b) “Slovenia’s junction to the High Sea”; and (c) “the regime for the use of the relevant maritime areas.”
Article 4 of the Arbitration Agreement mandates that the Tribunal apply (a) “the rules and principles of international law” for the determinations in respect of the course of the maritime and land boundary, and (b) “international law, equity and the principle of good neighbourly relations in order to achieve a fair and just result by taking into account all relevant circumstances” for the determinations in respect of “Slovenia’s junction to the High Sea” and the regime for the use of the relevant maritime areas.
Following a first procedural meeting on 13 April 2012, Croatia and Slovenia exchanged three rounds of extensive written submissions, which were accompanied by over two thousand documentary exhibits and maps. From 2 to 13 June 2014, a hearing was held at the Peace Palace, in the course of which both Parties presented their positions.
On 29 June 2017, the Tribunal rendered a Final Award at a public sitting at the Peace Palace, The Hague.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration acted as Registry in this arbitration.
Case information
Name(s) of Claimant(s)
Name(s) of Respondent(s)
-
Names of Parties
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Agent
Professor Maja Seršić, Head of the Department of International Law, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law (until 31 July 2015)
Co-Agent
H.E. Ms. Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, Ambassador, Director-General, Directorate for European Law, International Law and Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (until 31 July 2015)
Counsel and Advocates
Professor Zachary Douglas, Matrix Chambers (until 31 July 2015) Mr. Paul Reichler, Foley Hoag LLP (until 31 July 2015) Professor Philippe Sands QC, Matrix Chambers (until 31 July 2015) Ms. Anjolie Singh (until 31 July 2015) Professor Davor Vidas (until 31 July 2015)
REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA
Agent(s)
Professor Mirjam Škrk, Head of the Chair of International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana
H.E. Ms. Simona Drenik, Minister Plenipotentiary, Legal Advisor, Cabinet of the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (until 23 July 2015)
Co-Agent
H.E. Ms. Nataša Šebenik, Minister Plenipotentiary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as of 7 March 2016)
Counsel and Advocates
Mr. Rodman R. Bundy, Eversheds LLP Dr. Daniel Müller Professor Alain Pellet Sir Michael Wood, 20 Essex Street
Assistants to Counsel
Ms. Natasha Harrington, Eversheds LLP Dr. Maja Menard Ms. Alina Miron Mr. Eran Sthoeger
Case number
2012-04
Administering institution
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Case status
Concluded
Type of case
Inter-state arbitration
Subject matter or economic sector
Border delimitation
Procedural rules
Permanent Court of Arbitration Optional Rules for Arbitrating Disputes between Two States
Treaty or contract under which proceedings were commenced
Bilateral treaty Arbitration Agreement
Country A: Croatia
Country B: Slovenia
Language of Proceeding
English
Seat of Arbitration (by Country)
Belgium
Arbitrator(s), Conciliator(s), Other Neutral(s)
Judge Gilbert Guillaume Professor Vaughan Lowe QC Judge Bruno Simma Ambassador Rolf Einar Fife (since 25 September 2015) Professor Nicolas Michel (since 25 September 2015)