The European Union and the International Seabed Authority: interactions between legal orders under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

This dissertation examines the legal relationship between the European Union (EU) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), focusing on activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction (the “Area”). It analyses how these two legal orders interact in ensuring regulation of the exploration and potential exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources. The study first outlines the institutional and regulatory framework of the ISA, emphasising its mandate to manage the Area as the common heritage of humankind and the challenges linked to the development of the Mining Code. It then explores the EU legal order, assessing the Union’s international legal personality and its competences in fileds relevant to the UNCLOS and the ISA, such as environmental protection, trade, and maritime policy, as well as the division of powers between the EU and its Member States. The dissertation further investigates how direct obligations under the UNCLOS and obligations arising by virtue of the membership of the EU to the ISA are implemented within the EU framework. Finally, the dissertation addresses dispute settlement, examining the interaction between UNCLOS procedures and the EU judicial remedies provided under the Treaties.