CELEX: 51994PC0305
Language: da
Date: 1994-07-13
Title: Forslag til Rådets afgørelse om undertegnelse af aftalen om anvendelse af kapitel XI i De Forenede Nationers havretskonvention fra 1982 og om Det Europæiske Fællesskabs midlertidige anvendelse af denne aftale samt kapitel XI i nævnte konvention

KOMMISSIONEN FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER
                                                       KOM(94) 305 endelig udg.
                                                       Bruxelles, den 13.07.1994
                                                       94/0182 (ACC)
                   MEDDELELSE FRA KOMMISSIONEN TIL RÅDET
                  om resultaterne af "de uformelle
  konsultationer", der har været ført af De Forenede Nationers
  generalsekretær for at sikre universel accept af De Forenede
  Nationers havretskonvention fra 1982;
                                                                          94/0182 (ACC)
                            Forslag til Rådets afgørelse
                 om undertegnelse af aftalen om anvendelse af kapitel XI
                 i De Forenede Nationers havretskonvention fra 1982 og
           om Det Europæiske Fællesskabs midlertidige anvendelse af denne aftale
                          samt kapitel XI i nævnte konvention
                         (forelagt af Komi salonen)
 ---pagebreak---                                          I. INDLEDNING
Konventionen, som hidtil er ratificeret af 61 stater, hvoraf alle undtagen Island, det tidligere
Jugoslavien og Malta er udviklingslande, træder i kraft den 16. november 1994, et år efter den
60. ratifikation.
De industrialiserede lande har ikke ratificeret den, og nogle af dem, især Tyskland, Det
Forenede Kongerige og USA har endog ikke undertegnet den, da de finder, at kapitel XI om
udnyttelse af havbunden er udtryk for en dirigistisk, bureaukratisk og uhyre
omkostningskrævende ordning, medens udviklingslandene har opfattet kapitel XI som den
første realisering af "den nye økonomiske verdensorden".
Det er kun på grund af de politiske og økonomiske ændringer inden for de seneste år og de
enorme finansielle byrder, de ville være nødt til at påtage sig uden de industrialiserede landes
medvirken, at udviklingslandene har erkendt, at det er nødvendigt at ændre ordningen for
udnyttelse af havbunden for at gøre konventionen universelt acceptabel.
Derfor tog FN's generalsekretær, Perez de Cuellar, i 1990 initiativ til at indkalde et antal
interesserede stater for at fa konstateret, hvilke aspekter af kapitel XI der skaber de største
problemer for de industrialiserede lande og for at søge at nå frem til kompromisløsninger.
Alle interesserede stater og EF kunne deltage i anden fase af disse konsultationer.
Denne fase blev afsluttet den 3. juni 1994 med udarbejdelse af et udkast til resolution og et
udkast til aftale om anvendelse af kapitel XI.
Et meget stort flertal af de tilstedeværende delegationer gav udtryk for deres tilfredshed. En
enkelt stat, Den russiske Føderation, erklærede, at resultaterne ikke var tilfredsstillende, da flere
af dens forslag var blevet afvist af G-77's delegationer.
Udkastene bliver forelagt FN's 48. Generalforsamling, som er genindkaldt til den 27.-29 juli
 1994 med henblik på vedtagelsen af dem. Umiddelbart efter vedtagelsen vil aftalen være åben
for undertegnelse.
I medfør af bestemmelserne i konventionen, som EF undertegnede den 7. december 1984, kan
EF ikke undertegne aftalen, uden at mindst flertallet af dets medlemsstater har undertegnet den
på forhånd (jf. aftalens art. 3; konventionens art. 305, stk. 1, litra f), og konventionens bilag IX,
artikel 2).
 ---pagebreak---         II. EVALUERING AF UDKASTENE TIL RESOLUTION OG AFTALE 1)
1.       INDLEDNING
1.1.     Da EF undertegnede De Forenede Nationers havretskonvention den 7. december
          1984, fremsatte det følgende erklæring:
         Ved undertegnelsen af De Forenede Nationers havretskonvention erklærer Det
         Europæiske konomiske Fællesskab, at det finder, at konventionen inden for havrettens
         rammer er udtryk for en storstilet indsats i forbindelse med kodificeringen og den
         gradvise udvikling af folkeretten på de områder, som dets erklæring i medfør af artikel
         2 i bilag IX til konventionen henviser til. EF vil gerne udtrykke håb om, at denne
         udvikling vil blive et nyttigt middel til at fremme samarbejdet og stabile relationer
         mellem alle lande på disse områder.
         EF finder imidlertid, at meget væsentlige bestemmelser i konventionens kapitel
         XI ikke bidrager til udvikling af de aktiviteter, som dette kapitel henviser til, i
         betragtning af at adskillige af EF's medlemsstater allerede har tilkendegivet, at
         dette kapitel indeholder betydelige mangler og ufuldkommenheder, som bør
         korrigeres. EF anerkender betydningen af det arbejde, der stadig mangler at
         blive gjort, og håber, at der kan opnås enighed om betingelser for
         gennemførelsen af en ordning for havminedrift, som er generelt acceptable og
         derfor må formodes at fremme aktiviteterne i det internationale
         havbundsområde. EF vil inden for sine beføjelsers rammer spille sin fulde rolle
         for at bidrage til arbejdet med at finde tilfredsstillende løsninger.
         En separat afgørelse om formel bekræftelse vil skulle træffes på et senere tidspunkt.
         Den vil blive truffet i lyset af resultaterne af bestræbelserne på at nå frem til en
         universelt acceptabel konvention.
1.2.     Andre industrialiserede lande, især dem, der er interesseret i udnyttelsen af havbunden,
         fremsatte lignende erklæringer.
1.3.     Den Forberedende Kommission for Den Internationale Havbundsmyndighed og
         Den Internationale Havretsdomstol har vist sig at være de passende rammer for
         udarbejdelse af regler, forskrifter og procedurer, så længe disse var af teknisk og
         "neutral" art, men ikke velegnede til at rette op på "mangler og ufuldkommenheder".
1)    Denne evaluering, som er udarbejdet af Kommissionens tjenestegrene, blev godkendt den 2.6.1994
     i New York af medlemmerne af gruppen af hYjtstaende embedsmænd "havret" i deres personlige
     egenskab.
                                                                                                    2
 ---pagebreak--- 1.4. Sidst i firserne kunne det konstateres, at konventionen næsten udelukkende var blevet
     ratificeret af udviklingslande (med undtagelse af Island og Jugoslavien), og at de
     industrialiserede lande i st og Vest ikke ville ratificere den, så længe ordningen for
     havminedrift forblev uændret. En række vigtige politiske og økonomiske ændringer
     har fundet sted, siden vedtagelsen af konventionen foranledigede FN's generalsekretær
     til at at gøre en ny indsats for at få denne universelt accepteret.
1.5. Han indbød et begrænset antal udviklingslande og industrialiserede stater med en
     særlig interesse til "uformelle konsultationer", hvor man fremhævede otte elementer i
     kapitel XI, som udgjorde de vigtigste grunde til, at de industrialiserede stater ikke har
     ratificeret eller tiltrådt konventionen:
          Omkostningerne for deltagende stater
          Produktionsselskabet
          Myndighedens beslutningsprocedurer
          Revisionskonferencen
          Overførsel af teknologi
          Produktionsbegrænsninger
          Kompensationsfonden
          Finansielle aftalebetingelser
1.6. Efter næsten fire år har konsultationerne - som siden begyndelsen af 1992 havde været
     åbne for alle interesserede stater og EF - ført til aftaler om alle otte punkter og om
     etablering af et underorgan under Myndigheden, som skal tage sig af finansielle
     spørgsmål (konventionens artikel 162, stk. 2, litra y)), den såkaldte "Finanskomite".
1.7  I sidste fase af konsultationerne kunne de deltagende delegationer også blive enige om,
     hvilken retlig form resultaterne af forhandlingerne skulle have, idet man blev enig om
     at udarbejde et udkast til en aftale om gennemførelse af konventionens kapitel XI.
     Løsningen på de otte fremhævede problemer og bestemmelserne om etablering af
      "Finanskomiteen" udgør et bilag til aftalen. Det første afsnit, som behandler problemet
     vedrørende "omkostningerne for deltagende stater", indeholder også bestemmelser om
      "institutionelle arrangementer".
2.    GENNEMFØRELSESAFTALEN
2.1.  Aftalen er et retligt bindende instrument, som ændrer bestemmelserne i konventionens
      kapitel XI. Den foreskriver, at bestemmelserne i aftalen og kapitel XI fortolkes og
      anvendes sammen som et enkelt dokument. Hvis der er uoverensstemmelser mellem de
      to tekster, har aftalens bestemmelser forrang.
 ---pagebreak--- 2.2.  Aftalen imødekommer både de stater - herunder EF og dets medlemsstater - som hidtil
      har nægtet at ratificere eller tiltræde konventionen pga. ordningen for havminedrift, og
      de stater, der allerede har ratificeret den, men som for at opnå en universel accept af
      den har accepteret at ændre visse bestemmelser i kapitel XI, forudsat at princippet om,
      at Området og dets ressourcer er menneskehedens fælles arv, opretholdes, og at der er
      en klar tilkendegivelse om, at stater, som til at begynde med nægtede at acceptere den
      oprindelige minedriftsordning, vil acceptere den ændrede konvention.
      Med bestemmelsen om midlertidig anvendelse undgår man i det omfang, det er muligt,
      en situation, hvor forskellige medlemsstater, i det mindste for en periode, anvender
      forskellige versioner af konventionen: Fra konventionens ikrafttrædelse og indtil
      aftalens ikrafttrædelse, anvendes sidstnævnte midlertidigt
      -    af alle stater, der i FN's Generalforsamling har stemt for vedtagelsen, og som ikke
          før konventionens ikrafttræden udtrykkeligt har underrrettet depositaren om, at de
           ikke agter at gøre det,
      -    af stater, der har undertegnet aftalen og ikke underrettet depositaren om, at de
          ikke agter at anvende aftalen midlertidigt,
      -    af stater, som har tiltrådt aftalen
      Dette udelukker ikke, at stater, der har stemt imod vedtagelsen af aftalen, eller som
      ikke var repræsenteret ved mødet i Generalforsamlingen, kan anvende konventionen i
      sin uændrede form. Men der er ingen tvivl om, at aftalen vil fa tilslutning fra næsten
      alle de stater, der var repræsenteret ved de "uformelle konsultationer" og især fra de
      udviklingslande blandt dem, der allerede har ratificeret konventionen, og som ved
      deres tilstedeværelse har tilkendegivet deres interesse i ordningen for havminedrift.
2.3.  Stater kan på forskellige måder give udtryk for, at de accepterer at være bundet af
      konventionen (artikel 4 og 5). Den forenklede procedure gør det muligt for
      regeringerne i stater, der allerede har ratificeret konventionen, at give deres stiltiende
      samtykke, hvis de ønsker det. De andre måder at gøre det på er undertegnelse, der
      ikke kræver ratificering, ratificering og tiltrædelse. For EF gælder konventionens
      procedure vedrørende formel bekræftelse fra "internationale organisationer" (bilag IX,
      artikel 3).
2.4.  Aftalen træder i kraft 30 dage efter den dato, hvor 40 stater har givet deres samtykke
      til at være bundet af den, forudsat at disse stater omfatter mindst syv såkaldte
      "pionerinvestorstater" (resolution II, stk. 1, litra a)) 2, hvoraf mindst fem skal være
      industrialiserede stater. Dette giver udviklingslandene en forsikring om, at ændringerne
      af kapitel XI, som de har tilsluttet sig, har ført til det tilsigtede resultat, dvs.
      industrialiserede staters accept af konventionen.
2.5.  Af samme grund foreskriver aftalen (artikel 7, stk. 3), at den midlertidige anvendelse
      ophører den 16. november 1998, dvs. fire år efter konventionens ikrafttræden, hvis de i
      stk. 4 nævnte betingelser ikke på det tidspunkt er blevet opfyldt.
     Omfatter Belgien, Tyskland, Frankrig, Italien, Nederlandene og Det Forenede Kongerige
                                                                                               4
 ---pagebreak--- 2.6.     Konklusion
         Aftalen og dens bestemmelser vedrørende den midlertidige anvendelse vil give de
         industrialiserede lande, som endnu ikke har ratificeret konventionen, fuld adgang til
         Myndighedens organer og give dem tilstrækkelig lang tid til inden den 15. november
          1998 at få afsluttet deres interne ratificerings- eller tiltrædelsesprocedurer. På den
         anden side vil de udviklingslande, der allerede har ratificeret konventionen, fa
         tilfredsstillende garantier om, at de indrømmelser, de har givet under konsultationerne,
         modsvares af den universelle accept, som konventionen nu vil nyde godt af.
3.       BILAGET TIL GENNEMFØRELSESAFTALEN
3.1.     OMKOSTNINGER FOR DELTAGENDE STATER OG INSTITUTIONELLE
         ARRANGEMENTER
3.1.1.   OMKOSTNINGER FOR DELTAGENDE STATER
3.1.1.1. Bestemmelserne i konventionens kapitel XI
         Den Internationale Havbundsmyndighed og dens sekretariat som defineret i
         konventionens kapitel XI er blevet kritiseret for at være bureaukratisk, "dirigistisk",
         interventionistisk og overordentlig dyr. De industrialiserede lande i almindelighed og
         EF og dets medlemsstater især kunne ikke acceptere
         •    visse bestemmelser i kapitel XI, som pålægger Produktionsselskabet meget høje
              finansielle forpligtelser, især forpligtelsen til at yde langfristede rentefrie lån i et
              omfang, der svarer til 50% af de midler, der er nødvendige for at udforske og
              udnytte et udvindingssted og transportere, forarbejde og markedsføre de udvundne
              mineraler ... og for at afholde de initiale administrationsomkostninger, samt
              forpligtelsen til at bidrage til Kompensationsfonden, der yder bistand til
              landbaserede producenter i udviklingslande, der påvirkes heraf (se kapitel 3.2. og
              3.7. ndf);
         •    at der etableres en fuldt udbygget myndighed med alle underorganer og et stort
              sekretariat umiddelbart efter konventionens ikrafttræden, dvs. mindst femten år før
              den første kommercielle operation indledes, og før mange af Myndighedens
              beføjelser skal udøves.
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1.1.2. Gennemførelsesaftalen
         Det anerkendes i aftalen, at Myndighedens aktiviteter vil være begrænset efter
         konventionens ikrafttrædelse, så længe havminedrift ikke er økonomisk rentabel.
         Derfor skal de forskellige hoved- og underorganers oprettelse og funktion baseres på
         en gradvis udvikling og på omkostningseffektivitet. Aftalen identificerer præcist, hvilke
         aktiviteter Myndigheden skal koncentrere sig om i perioden før godkendelsen af den
         første arbejdsplan for udnyttelsen.
         Med aftalen nedsættes der en finanskomite (afsnit 9), hvis rekommandationer
         Forsamlingen og Rådet skal tage hensyn til i alle beslutninger om finansielle
         anliggender. Beslutninger truffet af Finanskomiteen i spørgsmål af større rækkevidde
         træffes ved konsensus (se kapitel 3.9. ndf). Indtil Myndigheden er selvfinansierende,
         skal medlemskab af komitéen ( 15 medlemmer) omfatte de fem største bidragsydere
         (USA, Japan, Tyskland, Rusland, Frankrig) til Myndighedens administrationsbudget.
         Desuden fjerner bestemmelserne i afsnsit 2 og 7 i aftalen alle finansielle forpligtelser
         som følge af etableringen ,af Produktionsselskabet og en "kompensationsfond" (se
         kapitel 3.2. og 3.7. ndf).
         Endelig foreskrives det i aftalen, at registrerede pionerinvestorer kan anmode om
         godkendelse af en arbejdsplan for udnyttelse inden for 36 måneder efter konventionens
         ikrafttrædelse, og at gebyret på 250 000 US$ indbetalt i henhold til resolution II skal
         anses som gebyret for udforskningsfasen. Aftalen knæsætter også det princip, at der
         ikke må ske forskelsbehandling af arrangementer for registrerede pionerinvestorer og
         arrangementer for stater eller instanser, der har anmodet om Myndighedens
         godkendelse af en arbejdsplan.
3.1.1.3. Evaluering
         Omkostningerne for de deltagende stater er blevet reduceret af tre grunde:
         •    I den lange periode, før udnyttelsen af området bliver rentabel, vil
              Myndigheden kun have et begrænset antal funktioner. Princippet om en
              gradvis udvikling bør sikre, at antallet og varigheden af Forsamlingens og
              Rådets møder i dette tidsrum bliver af yderst begrænset varighed, at der kun
              vil blive oprettet underorganer, hvis det er nødvendigt, og at Sekretariatet
              bliver meget lille, da dets opgaver er nøjagtigt defineret. Rådet, som træffer
              beslutninger efter "kammerafstemningssystemet" (se kapitel 3.3. ndf.) og
              bistås af "Finanskomiteen" (kapitel 3.9. ndf.) vil overvåge, at princippet om
              omkostningseffektivitet overholdes nøje.
 ---pagebreak---              Selv efter den første periode vil Myndighedens funktioner være betydeligt
             mere begrænsede, end de ville have været i medfør af det oprindelige kapitel
             XI, fordi aftalen har afbureaukratiseret Myndigheden: Funktioner, som ville
             have medført etablering af større administrative afdelinger i Sekretariatet
             (f.eks. produktionsbegrænsningssystemet og administrationen af en
             "kompensationsfond") er erstattet af mindre bureaukratiske bestemmelser.
             Endelig er de finansielt mest farlige bestemmelser i konventionen -
             vedrørende de deltagende stater finansiering af Produktionsselskabets første
             udvindingssted (se kapitel 3.2. ndf.) og af en "kompensationsfond" (se kapitel
             3 7.) definitivt fjernet.
3.1.2.   INSTITUTIONELLE ARRANGEMENTER
3.1.2.1. Gennemførelsesaftalen
3.1.2.1.1 .Midlertidigt medlemskab
         Aftalen vil kunne træde i kraft, før alle stater, og især alle de sponsorerende stater, har
         afsluttet deres ratificeringseller tiltrædelsesprocedurer. Aftalen indeholder derfor en
         bestemmelse om, at disse stater har mulighed for at fortsætte som medlemmer af
         Myndigheden på midlertidig basis eller kan anmode Rådet om at bevilge et sådant
         fortsat medlemskab for perioden mellem den 15. november 1996 og den 16. november
          1998.
         En godkendt arbejdsplan for udnyttelse skal, hvis den sponsoreres af mindst en stat,
         der anvender aftalen midlertidigt, ikke længere have gyldighed, hvis denne stat ophører
         med at anvende aftalen (artikel 7) og hverken er blevet medlem på midletidig basis
         eller deltagende stat.
3.1.2.1.2. Rettigheder og forpligtelser for midlertidige medlemmer af Myndigheden
         Sådanne medlemmer anvender aftalens kapitel XI i overensstemmelse med deres
         nationale eller internationale lovgivning og årlige budgetbevillinger og har samme
         rettigheder og forpligtelser som andre medlemmer, herunder forpligtelsen til at bidrage
         til Myndighedens administrationsbudget (se afsnit 3.1.2.1.3. ndf) og retten til at
          sponsorere en ansøgning om en arbejdsplan for udnyttelse.
          Hvis et sådant medlem har undladt at overholde sine forpligtelser, ophører dets
          midlertidige medlemskab.
 ---pagebreak--- 31.21.3 .Midlertidigfinansieringaf Myndigheden via FN's budget
         Indtil udgangen af det andet år efter aftalens ikrafttrædelse afholdes Myndighedens
         administrative udgifter via FN's budget, forudsat at Generalforsamlingen træffer
         afgørelse herom (paragraf 7 i udkastet til FN's Generalforsamlings resolution
         indeholder en sådan afgørelse).
3.1.2.1.4.Regler, forskrifter og procedurer
         Bestemmelserne i konventionens artikel 162, stk. 2, litra o), underlitra ii), hvori det
         angives, for hvilke anliggender Myndigheden kan vedtage regler, forskrifter og
         procedurer, udvides til aftalens bestemmelser om Produktionsselskabet,
         teknologioverførsel, produktionspolitik og finansielle kontraktbestemmelser. Hvis
         Rådet ikke har færdigudarbejdet reglerne, forskrifterne og procedurerne vedrørende
         udnyttelse inden for det foreskrevne tidsrum, skal det tage en arbejdsplan for
         udnyttelse op til behandling og efter omstændighederne godkende den midlertidigt.
3.1.2.2. Evaluering
          Den midlertidige finansiering af Myndighedens administrationsomkostninger via
          FN-budgettet løser problemerne for de stater, som af forfatningsmæssige grunde
          ikke kan bidrage til en international organisations budget uden at have tiltrådt
          organisationen.
          Bestemmelserne om vedtagelse af regler, forskrifter og procedurerer er udformet
          under hensyntagen til, at detaljerede bestemmelser mht. til for mange aspekter
          af havminedrift ikke kan vedtages, før de økonomiske, teknologiske og
          miljømæssige betingelser for havminedrift er bedre kendt, dvs. på et tidspunkt,
          når kommerciel udnyttelse kan finde sted en gang i den nærmeste fremtid.
          Systemet med "medlemskab på midlertidig basis" giver stater med komplicerede
          eller langvarige ratificeringsprocedurer en forsikring om, at de kan fortsætte
           med at være medlemmer af Myndigheden på midlertidig basis efter aftalens
          ikrafttræden indtil den 15. november 1998!
 ---pagebreak--- 3.2.    PRODUKTIONSSELSKABET
3.2.1. Bestemmelserne i kapitel XI i konventionen og i bilag IV
       Etableringen af Produktionsselskabet blev ved konventionens vedtagelse af mange
       udviklingslande betragtet som den første manifestation af "den nye økonomiske
       verdensorden". Af de samme grunde er "parallelsystemet" blevet kritiseret i de vestlige
       industrialiserede lande som værende uforeneligt med deres økonomiske system, fordi
       det skabte et internationalt "statsligt selskab", som gennem Myndigheden var udsat for
       politisk indblanding, skulle finansieres ved uhyre store bidrag fra de deltagende stater
       og nød godt af mange privilegier i forhold til sine konkurrenter, dvs. kunne foretage
       forundersøgelser i det reserverede område på bekostning af sine konkurrenter, nød
       godt af omkostningsfri finansiering af det første minedriftsprojekt, var fritaget for
       betalinger til Myndigheden i en indledende periode på ti år, nød immunitet for arrest,
       udlæg og eksekution før afsigelse af endelig dom mod den og havde ret til tvungen
       overførsel af teknologi fra sine konkurrenter. Det blev også påpeget, at Produktions-
       selskabet, hvis virksomhed var begrænset til en enkelt sektor, dvs. havminedrift, ville
       være yderst sårbar over for ustabiliteten på de internationale råvaremarkeder.
3.2.2.  Gennemførelsesaftalen
       Da det vil vare mindst femten år, før havminedrift bliver rentabel, vil
       Produktionsselskabets aktiviteter hovedsagelig bestå i at følge tendenser og vurdere
       data. Derfor vil dets funktioner i begyndelsen blive varetaget af Myndighedens
       sekretariat.
       Produktionsselskabet iværksætter sine første kommercielle operationer via
       fællesforetagender ("joint ventures"). Kun i tilfælde af, at en arbejdsplan for udnyttelse
       på en anden kontrahents vegne godkendes, eller hvis der anmodes om samarbejde i et
       fællesforetagende, skal Rådet overveje, om Produktionsselskabet skal fungere
       uafhængigt af sekretariatet. Hvis et fællesforetagende kan gennemføres efter sunde
       forretningsmæssige principper, træffer Rådet beslutning om, at Produktionsselskabet
       skal fungere uafhængigt.
       Deltagende stater er på ingen måde forpligtede til at finansiere nogen af
       Produktionsselskabets operationer, herunder operationer i forbindelse med
       fællesforetagender.
       Alle forpligtelser, der        gælder     for   kontrahenter,   skal   også   gælde    for
        Produktionsselskabet.
        En kontrahent, der har bidraget med et særligt område til Myndigheden som det
        reserverede område, skal have ret til at afslå at indgå i et fællesforetagende med
        Produktionsselskabet, eller hvis Produktionsselskabet ikke forelægger en ansøgning
        om en arbejdsplan, senest femten år efter at det er begyndt at fungere uafhængigt, kan
        kontrahenten ansøge om en arbejdsplan for dette område med Produktionsselskabet
        som joint venture-partner.
 ---pagebreak--- 3.2.3. Evaluering
       Det har været fremført, også inden for Den europæiske Union, at
       Produktionsselskabet som sådant ikke er foreneligt med markedsøkonomiske
       principper. På den anden side er det stadig for mange udviklingslande symbolet
       på princippet om menneskehedens fælles arv.
       I aftalen har man bevaret Produktionsselskabet, men har fjernet de elementer,
       der ikke er forenelige med en international markedsøkonomi. Selv når selskabet
       får lov til at fungere uafhængigt af sekretariatet, vil det ikke være mere end en
       slags halv-autonomt organ for administration af Myndighedens egne
       mineralressourcer.
       Formelt foreskriver aftalen kun, at Produktionsselskabet skal gennemføre sine
       indledende minedriftsoperationer via fællesforetagender. Men selv på lang sigt
       vil det ikke være i stand til at finansiere en uafhængig operation, fordi de
       deltagende stater ikke er forpligtede til at finansiere et af Produktionsselskabets
       udvindingssteder, og udviklingslandene, især landbaserede producenter, vil ikke
       nære ønske om, at det akkumulerer alt overskud fra fællesforetagender til dette
       formål i stedet for at overføre dette overskud til Fonden for konomisk Bistand
       eller anvende det andre udviklingsformål.
       Aftalen indeholder en forsikring om, at der ikke vil finde forskelsbehandling sted
       mellem Produktionsselskabet og andre operatører.
       Da Produktionsselskabet ikke vil komme til at fungere uafhængigt fra
       sekretariatet, før havminedrift bliver rentabel, overholdes princippet om
       omkostningseffektivitet.
       Af disse grunde er aftalens bestemmelser vedrørende Produktionsselskabet
       acceptable.
3.3.    BESLUTNINGSPROCEDUREN
3.3.1.  Bestemmelserne i konventionens kapitel XI
        Som det er tilfældet med FN, vil Havbundsmyndighedens medlemmer omfatte en lang
        række meget små udviklingslande, hvis individuelle finansielle bidrag er begrænset til
        0,01% af budgettet. I overensstemmelse med principperne om staternes suverænitet og
        lighed er alle deltagende stater repræsenteret i Forsamlingen, som træffer sine
        beslutninger i væsentlige spørgsmål med to tredjedeles flertal.
        Konventionen indeholder ikke tilstrækkelig modvægt til disse principper i form af en
        erkendelse af, at Myndighedens beslutninger vil påvirke visse kategorier af staters
        meget vigtigefinansielleog økonomiske interesser, og at disse legitime interesser ikke
        betingelsesløst kan underkastes flertalsbeslutninger.
                                                                                             10
 ---pagebreak---        At der findes specifikke interesser anerkendes i bestemmelserne om Rådet, som sikrer
       en mindsterepræsentation af grupper af forbrugere, investorer, landbaserede
       producenter og udviklingslande med særlige interesser. Da imidlertid Rådet med sine
       36 medlemmer træffer sine beslutninger i væsentlige spørgsmål med to tredjedeles eller
       i nogle tilfælde tre fjerdedeles flertal, kan en hvilken som helst af disse grupper let
       komme i mindretal (dette vedrører ikke kun industrialiserede landes interesser: Også
       udviklingslandenes landbaserede producenters interesser kan påvirkes i negativ
       retning).
       Hvad angår EU-medlemsstaternes interesser kunne dette ske i forbindelse med
       beslutninger om finansielle anliggender, om regulering og administration af
       havminedrift, Produktionsselskabet og visse råvarepolitiske aspekter.
3.3.2. Gen nem førelsesaft alen
       Som generel regel bør beslutninger i Myndighedens organer træffes ved konsensus.
       Hvis alle muligheder for at nå frem til en beslutning ved konsensus er opbrugt, træffes
       beslutninger ved afstemning efter følgende retningslinjer:
           *   Bestemmelserne om afstemning i Forsamlingen er fortsat uændrede.
               Imidlertid skal beslutninger om ethvert anliggende, for hvilket Rådet også har
               beføjelser, eller om ethvert administrativt, budgetmæssigt eller finansielt
               anliggende baseres på Rådets rekommandationer. Hvis Forsamlingen ikke
               accepterer rekommandationen, sender den sagen tilbage til Rådet, som
               behandler den på ny i lyset af de synspunkter, Forsamlingen har givet udtryk
               for.
           *   I Rådet etableres der fire kamre:
                    1. fire medlemmer, der repræsenterer de største forbrugerlande, herunder
                         det største i det østeuropæiske område (Rusland) og den den stat, der
                         har den største økonomi på datoen for konventionens ikrafttræden
                         (USA);
                    2. fire medlemmer, der repræsenterer de otte største investorer,
                    3. fire medlemmer, der repræsenterer de landbaserede producenter,
                         herunder mindst to udviklingslande;
                    4.   de udviklingslande, der er udvalgt som de seks udviklingslande med
                         særlige interesser, og dem, der er udvalgt efter princippet om ligelig
                         geografisk fordeling.
                                                                                             li
 ---pagebreak---                Rådet træfter beslutninger om væsæentlige spørgsmål (hvis der ikke har
               kunnet opnås konsensus) med to tredjedelesflertal,forudsat at det ikke har et
               flertal imod sig i et af defirekamre.
               Beslutninger truffet af Forsamlingen eller Rådet, der har finansielle eller
               budgetmmæssige følger, baseres på Finanskomiteens rekommandationer.
3.3.3. Evaluering
       Kammerafstemningssystemet udelukker muligheden for, at en enkelt stat ved
       hjælp af et veto kan paralysere Rådets beslutningsprocedure, men det beskytter
       de vigtigste interessegrupper ved at give dem kollektive vetobeføjelser.
       Den fjerde kategori af rådsmedlemmer (udviklingslande med særlige interesser),
       som er defineret på grundlag af kriterier, der ikke har relation til havminedrift,
       kunne ikke anerkendes som et kammer. Der blev derfor opnået enighed om at
       danne et større kammer bestående af alle udviklingslande, der er repræsenteret i
       Rådet (undtagen udviklingslande, der er repræsenteret i de første tre kamre).
       Denne bestemmelse vil ikke få nogen praktisk virkning, fordi en beslutning med
       to tredjedeles flertal, der går udviklingslandene imod, er så godt som udelukket.
       Det forhold, at Forsamlingens beslutninger i alle vigtige anliggender skal baseres
       på Rådets rekommandationer, gør Rådet til Myndighedens centrale organ og
       sikrer, at mindretalsinteresser også beskyttes i Forsamlingen.
       Forpligtelsen til at basere Forsamlingens eller Rådets beslutninger, der har
       finansielle eller budgetmæssige følger, på Finanskomiteens rekommandationer,
       giver en yderligere interessebeskyttelse for de medlemsstater, som vil være
       blandt de største bidragsydere til Myndighedens budget.
       Der er taget hensyn til EF's medlemsstaters interesse i at have adgang til de
       første to kamre: USA er ikke defineret som medlem af Gruppen af
       Vesteuropæiske og Andre Stater (WEOG), således at en medlemsstats
       kandidatur ikke kan afvises med det argument, at WEOG allerede er
       repræsenteret. Da USA også kan vælge at tilhøre et andet kammer end det
       første, vil der være større fleksibilitet med hensyn til medlemsstaters
        repræsentation i det første kammer. Desuden gælder rotationsprincippet.
                                                                                           12
 ---pagebreak--- 3.4.   REVISIONSKONFERENCE
3.4.1. Konventionens kapitel XI
       Konventionen indeholder bestemmelser om en konference, som femten år efter den
       første kommercielle operation skal tage hele systemet med udforskning og udnyttelse
       af Området op til fornyet overvejelse. Den skal udfolde enhver bestræbelse på at nå til
       enighed ved konsensus, men kan i sidste ende vedtage ændringer af systemet ved tre
       fjerdedeles flertal. Ændringerne træder i kraft med gyldighed for alle deltagende stater
       efter ratificering eller tiltrædelse af tre fjerdedele af de deltagende stater.
       Revisionskonferencen er blevet kritiseret af de industrialiserede stater af samme
       grunde som beslutningsprocedurerne: Den gør det muligt for flertallet at negligere
       mindretalsgruppers interesser.
       De industrialiserede stater har også understreget de forfatningsmæssige problemer, der
       opstår som følge af, at en ændring kunne blive gældende lov i deres lande efter
       ratificering af tre fjerdedele af de deltagende stater, selv om deres egne parlamenter
       eller regeringer ikke har godkendt den.
3.4.2.  Genemførelsesaftalen
       Bestemmelserne om Revisionskonferencen anvendes ikke. I stedet for konferencen kan
       Rådet på et hvilket som helst tidspunkt rette en henstilling til forsamlingen om at tage
       ordningen for havminedrift op til fornyet overvejelse. De ændringer, der kommer ud af
       dette, vil være omfattet af konventionens normale traktatændringsprocedurer (artikel
       314-316).
       Aftalen ændrer ikke artikel 316, stk. 5, som fastsætter, at en sådan ændring træder i
       kraft for alle deltagende stater, et år efter at tre fjerdedele af de deltagende stater har
       deponeret deres ratifikations- eller tiltrædelsesinstrumenter.
3.4.3. Evaluering
       Den nye procedure yder mindretalsinteresser større beskyttelse. Rådets
       rekommandation til Forsamlingen er mere end blot en opfordring til at tage
       havminedriftssystemet op til fornyet overvejelse; Rådet kan nøjagtigt angive,
       hvilke ændringer den skønner nødvendige. Hvis Forsamlingen ikke er enig, skal
       den sende sagen tilbage til Rådet.
       De industrialiserede landes interesser vil gennem hele proceduren være beskyttet
       af konsensusprincippet.
                                                                                                13
 ---pagebreak---        Ikrafttrædelsen for alle deltagende stater efter ratifikation af ændringen af tre
       fjerdedele af de deltagende stater skal ses som et udslag af, at kapitel XI i
       konventionen ikke blot fastslår rettigheder og forpligtelser mellem deltagende
       stater (som i andre kapitler i konventionen), men skaber et omfattende
       regulerings- og administratiossystem for udnyttelse af Området. Sådan et system
       kan ikke fungere, hvis det ikke anvendes på ensartet måde (trods bestemmelsen i
       artikel 155, stk. 5, om, at ændringer ikke berører rettigheder erhvervet under
       eksisterende kontrakter).
3.5.   TEKNOLOGIOVERFØRSEL
3.5.1. Konventionens kapitel XI og bilag III
       I henhold til bilag III, artikel 5, skal kontrahenten i enhver aftale om udforskning eller
       udnyttelse forpligte sig til at stille den teknologi, han agter at anvende i Området, og
       som han har lovmæssig ret til at overføre, til rådighed for Produktionsselskabet (eller
       udviklingslande, der har ansøgt om en kontrakt) på rimelige forretningsvilkår.
       Kontrahenten skal også forpligte sig til at skaffe en skriftlig forsikring fra ejeren af den
       teknologi, som han agter at benytte i Området, om, at ejeren er rede til at stille denne
       teknologi til rådighed for Produktionsselskabet eller udviklingslande. Hvis denne
       forsikring ikke kan skaffes, må kontrahenten ikke benytte den pågældende teknologi.
       Sådanne forpligtelser betragtes i nogle industrialiserede lande som et brud på
       rettighederne til intellektuel ejendom og som uforenelig med markedsøkonomiske
       principper.
3.5.2.  Gennemførelsesaftalen
       Da Produktionsselskabet vil iværksætte sine operationer gennem fællesforetagender, er
       bestemmelserne i bilag III, artikel 5, ikke længere aktuelle. Konventionens artikel 144,
        som også omhandler teknologioverførsel, som ikke pålægger kontrahenterne særlige
        forpligtelser, forbliver i kraft.
3.5.3.  Evaluering
        Gennemførelsesaftalen afskaffer princippet om obligatorisk overførsel af
        teknologi. Uvis bestemmelserne i artikel 144 nogensinde skulle blive anvendt -
        hvilket er usandsynligt, da Produktionsselskabets aktiviteter altid vil være
        begrænset til fællesforetagender - vil kammerafstemningssystemet i Rådet
        beskytte de industrialiserede landes interesser.
        Aftalens bestemmelser er derfor acceptable.
                                                                                                  14
 ---pagebreak--- 3.6.   PRODUKTIONSPOLITIK
3.6.1. Bestemmelserne i konventionens kapitel XI
       I artikel 151, stk. 4, er der fastsat et produktionsloft for ethvert år i en 25-årig
       overgangsperiode. Loftet begrænser havmineproduktionen til 60% af vækstraten for
       den internationale nikkelproduktion, beregnet på basis af en udviklingstendens over en
        15-årig periode.
       Beregninger baseret på en sådan periode tager ikke hensyn til nye faktorer, og som
       udviklingen siden vedtagelsen af konventionen i 1982 allerede har vist, giver de nogle
       resultater,        som       ikke       afspejler   de      reelle      markedsforhold.
       Produktionsbegrænsningssystemet formodedes at beskytte udviklingslandenes
       landbaserede producenter af de fire mineraler indeholdt i mangannoduler. Imidlertid
       diskriminerer det havminedriften, idet aHe landbaserede producenter, både i de
       industrialiserede lande og i udviklingslandene, bskyttes. Faktisk ville produktionen i
       industrialiserede lande have større fordel af systemet end udviklingslandene: Af de fire
       metaller produceres kun kobolt hovedsagelig (74%) i udviklingslande, mens tallene for
       de andre tre er henholdsvis 45% (kobber), 28% (mangan) og 27% (nikkel).
       På den anden side beskytter systemet ikke koboltproducenterne i udviklingslandene,
       som mest sandsynligt vil blive negativt berørt af havminedrift, da en enkelt
       mineoperation på havbunden vil producere mere end 20% af det nuværende forbrug i
       verden.
3.6.2. Anvendelsesaftalen
       Gennemførelsesaftalen erstatter produktionsbegrænsningssystemet i kapitel XI
        med regler for en produktionspolitik baseret på de nuværende og fremtidige
        bestemmelser i de relevante koder i GATTAVTO. Især henviser det til GATT's
       definition af tilladte og ikke-tilladte subsidier. Det pålægger landbaserede og
        havbundsbaserede producenter en forpligtelse til ikke at diskriminere mellem
        mineraler, der stammer fra Området, og mineraler fra andre kilder, og ikke at give
        præferenceadgang til sådanne mineraler.
        Deltagende stater, som er parter i GATTAVTO, skal have mulighed for at benytte
        sig af disse aftalers procedurer for bilæggelse af tvister. Imidlertid skal
        konventionens procedurer for bilæggelse af tvister anvendes i de tilfælde, hvor en eller
        flere parter i en tvist ikke er parter i GATTAVTO. Denne bestemmelse er ikke 100%
        tilfredsstillende, da den gør det muligt for institutioner, der ikke hører ind under
        GATT, at fortolke GATT-regler, men det er uundgåeligt, fordi GATTAVTO's
        procedurer for bilæggelse af tvister kun kan anvendes blandt parterne i disse aftaler.
                                                                                               15
 ---pagebreak---        Hvis det fastslås i en GATT/WTO-sammenhæng, at en deltagende stat har foretaget
       subsidiering, som er forbudt eller har haft negative følger for en anden deltagende stats
       interesser, skal sidstnævnte, hvis vedkommende er part i GATTAVTO-aftalerne, have
       valget mellem at tage passende forholdsregler i medfør af GATT-reglerne eller anmode
       Rådet for Havbundsmyndigheden om at træffe passende foranstaltninger.
       Under det nye produktionspolitiske system vil det ikke blot være forbudt for
       deltagende stater at give ikke-tilladte subsidier, men også for kontrahenter at
       acceptere dem. Accept af sådanne subsidier vil være en overtrædelse af de
       grundlæggende betingelser i kontrakten. En deltagende stat kan anmode Rådet om at
       træffe foranstaltninger over for en sådan kontrahent. Den sponsorerende stat og
       kontrahenten har mulighed for at benytte procedurerne for bilæggelse af tvister, som
       forvaltes af Afdelingen for Havbundstvister under Den Internationale Havretsdomstol.
3.6.3. Evaluering
       Henvisningen til GATT-bestemmelserne sikrer rimelig konkurrence mellem
       landbaserede og havbundsbaserede producenter samt mellem de
       havbundsbaserede producenter indbyrdes. Det forhold, at GATTAVTO's
       procedurer for bilæggelse af tvister kun kan anvendes, hvis alle parterne i en
       tvist er parter i disse aftaler, er en konsekvens af GATT-procedurerne. Det er
       beklageligt, men uundgåeligt, at GATT-bestemmelser måske vil skulle fortolkes
       at Myndighedens Råd og af Afdelingen for Havbundstvister under Den
       Internationale Havbundsmyndighed i et begrænset antal tilfælde. Men da
       havminedrift ikke vil blive rentabel i hvert fald i de første femten år, er det
       meget sandsynligt, at alle potentielle havbundsproducentstater vil have tiltrådt
       WTO, før der for første gang iværksættes kommerciel produktion.
3.7.   ØKONOMISK BISTAND
3.7.1. Bestemmelserne i konventionens kapitel XI
        Artikel 151, stk 10, og artikel 171, litra f), indeholder bestemmelser om en
        kompensationsfond, der skal bistå udviklingslande, som mærker de alvorlige negative
        følger af en nedgang i prisen på et mineral eller i det pågældende minerals
       eksportvolumen, hvis denne nedgang skyldes havminedrift. EF og dets medlemsstater
        har allerede i drøftelserne om havretskonventionen samt i andre fora fastholdt, at
        kompensationsfonde ikke er et incitament til at tilpasse sig nye økonomiske forhold,
        men er til fordel for opretholdelse af ikke-konkurrencedygtig produktion og derfor
        ikke nødvendigvis vil være af midlertidig karakter.
                                                                                              16
 ---pagebreak---        Til administration af en kompensationsfond ville Myndigheden ikke, selv om den blev
       bistået af et stort og dyrt bureaukrati, have den fornødne ekspertise til at hjælpe en
       negativt påvirket landbaseret producent med at udvikle alternative økonomiske
       aktiviteter uden for minesektoren.
3.7.2. Gennemførelsesaftalen
       Aftalen erstatter Kompensationsfonden med en Fond for konomisk Bistand, fra hvilken
       Myndigheden         yder    bistand     til    negativt      påvirkede     landbaserede
       producentudviklingslande i samarbejde med eksisterende globale eller regionale
       udviklingsinstitutioner, der har den fornødne ekspertise.
       Fonden etableres ved hjælp af en del af midlerne fra Myndigheden, som overstiger,
       hvad der er nødvendigt til at dække administrationsudgifterne Kun betalinger fra
       kontrahenter, inklusive Produktionsselskabet, og frivillige bidrag anvendes.
3.7.3. Evaluering
       Gennemførelsesbestemmelsens bestemmelser afspejler fuldt ud de holdninger,
       EF og dets medlemsstater har indtaget.
3.8.   FINANSIELLE KONTRAKTSVILKÅR
3.8.1. Konventionens kapitel XI og bilag III
       De finansielle byrder, der pålægges kontrahenten, virker ikke befordrende for
       mineprojekter på havbunden. De betalinger, der skal foretages til Myndigheden, er
       højere end dem, der pålægges landbaserede producenter. Dette fratager industrien
       motivationen til at udvikle den nødvendige havmineteknologi og gå i gang med
       havminedriftsprojekter, så længe der er tilgængelige landbaserede ressourcer, selv med
       en lav produktivitetsgrad.
       Ved opkrævningen af en betydelig produktionslicens, som skal betales til
       Myndigheden, uanset om mineprojektet er nået op på et rentabelt niveau eller ej, tages
       der ikke hensyn til de høje omkostninger, der er forbundet med udvikling af
       mineudstyr og indsætning af dette i den indledende produktionsfase.
                                                                                             17
 ---pagebreak--- 3.8.2. Gennemførelsesaftalen
       Bestemmelserne i bilag III, artikel 13, stk. 3 - 10, i konventionen vil ikke blive
       anvendt. Aftalen erstatter dem ikke med en anden ordning, men foreskriver en række
       principper, som danner grundlag for de regler, forskrifter og procedurer, der skal
       vedtages af Myndigheden på et senere tidspunkt (se 3.1.2.1.4. ovf). Systemet med
       finansielle betalinger skal
       •    være rimelig set både fra kontrahentens og Myndighedens synspunkt,
       •    ligge inden for rammerne for gældende betalinger for landbaseret minedrift,
       •    være gennemsigtige og ikke pålægge Myndigheden eller kontrahenten store
            administrationsomkostninger.
3.8.3. Evaluering
       Principperne for de regler, forskrifter og procedurer, der skal vedtages af
       Myndigheden, svarer til de krav, som de industrialiserede lande har stillet. Når
       man tager det kammerafstemningssystem i betragtning, der skal anvendes i
       Rådet, er aftalens bestemmelser acceptable.
3.9.    FINANSKOMITEEN
3.9.1. Konventionens kapitel XI
       Artikel 162, stk. 2, litra y), forpligter Rådet til at etablere et underorgan til
       udarbejdelse af et udkast til finansielle regler, forskrifter og procedurer for finansielle
       anliggender.
3.9.2.  Gennemførelsesaftalen
       Med aftalen oprettes der en "Finanskomite", som ikke blot skal udarbejde udkast til
        regler, forskrifter og procedurer, men også fremsætte rekommandationer mht. alle
       Myndighedens aktiviteter med administrative og budgetmæssige konsekvenser.
3.9.3.  Evaluering
        Finanskomiteen nedsat i henhold til aftalen vil - i kombination med Rådets
        kammerafstemningssystem - sikre, at Myndigheden respekterer princippet om
        omkostningseffektivitet.
                                                                                               18
 ---pagebreak--- 4.   KONKLUSION
4.1. De "mangler og ufuldkommenheder" i ordningen for h av m i ned rift, som EF
     havde kritiseret den 7. december 1984, da det undertegnede konventionen, er
     fjernet. De erstattes enten af fuldstændig tilfredsstillende bestemmelser i
     gennemførelsesaftalen eller vil af Myndigheden på et senere tidspunkt blive
     erstattet af regler, forskrifter eller procedurer baseret på kriterier, der er fastlagt
     i aftalen, og som skal vedtages i medfør af kammerafstemningssystemet.
4.2. EF og dets medlemsstater har i lang tid accepteret princippet om
     "menneskehedens fælles arv". Det var kun omsætteisen af dette princip til et
     bureaukratisk og interventionistisk system, de ikke kunne acceptere. En del af
     det gamle sprog vil fortsat findes i kapitel XI og tilhørende bilag, men uden
     uønskede konsekvenser af politisk, økonomisk eller operationel art.
4.3. Aftalen har gjort konventionen "universelt acceptabel". Den afspejler i vid
     udstrækning de holdninger, som EF og dets medlemsstater ofte har givet udtryk
     for.
4.4. Aftalen vil blive vedtaget som et bilag til en resolution vedtaget af medlemmerne
     af FN's Generalforsamling. EF, som ikke er medlem af FN's Generalforsamling,
     vil ikke være i stand til at deltage i vedtagelsen og ved sin afstemning give udtryk
     for sit synpunkt om, at aftalen er i overensstemmelse med resultaterne af de
     "uformelle konsultationer", som EF har deltaget aktivt i.
4.5. Imidlertid giver muligheden for at undertegne aftalen umiddelbart efter
     vedtagelsen EF en lejlighed til at give sin tilslutning til den. Ifølge bilag IX,
     artikel 2, i konventionen kan EF kun undertegne aftalen, hvis et flertal af dets
     medlemsstater er signatarer. Hvis EF skal kunne undertegne aftalen
     umiddelbart efter dens vedtagelse, vil det være nødvendigt, at i det mindste et
     flertal af dets medlemsstater gør det samtidig.
4.6.  Da "manglerne og ufuldkommenhederne" i kapital XI nu er fjernet, er det i EF's
     og dets medlemsstaters interesse at styrke konventionens universelle
     anvendelighed ved hurtigt at ratificere eller tiltræde den. Det ville få en betydelig
      politisk effekt, hvis alle medlemsstaterne og EF ville understrege denne fælles
      hensigt ved i fællesskab og samtidig at undertegne aftalen på den dato.
                                                                                           19
 ---pagebreak---                           III. FORESLÅEDE AKTIONER
1. Konventionens kapitel XI falder ligesom konventionens øvrige kapitler ind under EF's
   og medlemsstaternes fælles kompetence. Af ovennævnte grunde er Kommissionen af
   den opfattelse, at aftalen bør undertegnes af EF og dets medlemsstater umiddelbart
   efter vedtagelsen på FN's Generalforsamling, som er indkaldt til den 27.-29. juli i år.
   EF og dets medlemsstater, for så vidt deres respektive forfatninger muliggør det, bør
   anvende aftalen midlertidigt fra den 16. november 1994, som er datoen for
   konventionens ikrafttræden
2. Den 7. december 1984 fremsatte EF ved undertegnelsen af konventionen en erklæring
   i overensstemmelse med artikel 2 i bilag IX (internationale organisationers deltagelse),
   "som nærmere angiver de områder omfattet af denne konvention, med hensyn til hvilke
   kompetence er blevet overført til organisationen af dens medlemsstater." EF
   erklærede, at EF for så vidt angår kapitel XI har beføjelser på det handelspolitiske
   område, herunder kontrol med illoyal økonomisk praksis.
3. Det retlige grundlag for beslutningen om at undertegne aftalen er således EF-
   traktatens artikel 113. Denne artikel danner ligeledes grundlag for beslutningen om
   midlertidig anvendelse, da denne kun gælder for konventionens kapitel XI.
4. Da adskillige medlemsstater har tilkendegivet, at de agter at ratificere konventionen og
   aftalen hurtigt, sender Kommissionen snarest et udkast til formel bekræftelse, herunder
   et udkast til erklæring om beføjelserne i overensstemmelse med artikel 5 i
   konventionens bilag IX. Europa-Parlamentet vil på den måde have den nødvendige tid
   til at udarbejde sin udtalelse, og EF vil kunne foretage den formelle bekræftelse, så
   snart et flertal af medlemsstaterne har ratificeret eller tiltrådt konventionen og aftalen.
5. Kommissionen foreslår derfor Rådet at træffe vedlagte afgørelse.
                                                                                              20
 ---pagebreak---                                               Bilag
                                                                       94/0182 (ACC)
                                 Forslag til Rådets afgørelse af
                    om undertegnelse af aftalen om anvendelse af kapitel XI
                    i De Forenede Nationers havretskonvention fra 1982 og
            om Det Europæiske Fællesskabs midlertidige anvendelse af denne aftale
                               samt kapitel XI i nævnte konvention
Rådet for Den Europæiske Union har -
        under henvisning til traktaten om oprettelse af Det Europæiske Fællesskab, særlig
        artikel 113,
        under henvisning til Kommissionens forslag og
        ud fra følgende betragtninger:
        Denne aftale, som er kommet i stand efter De Forenede Nationers generalsekretærs
        uformelle drøftelser, sikrer havretskonventionens universelle accept;
        medlemsstaterne har tilkendegivet, at de agter at undertegne aftalen og, i det omfang
        deres forfatning tillader det, anvende den midlertidigt -
TRUFFET FLGENDE AFGRELSE:
                                             Artikel 1
1.      Aftalen om anvendelse af kapitel XI i De Forenede Nationers konvention fra 1982
        undertegnes af EF og dets medlemsstater i fællesskab umiddelbart efter dens
        vedtagelse på De Forenede Nationers Generalforsamling.
2.      Formanden for Rådet bemyndiges til at udpege den person, der er beføjet til at
        undertegne aftalen.
3.      Aftaleteksten er vedføjet som bilag.
                                             Artikel 2
        Den i artikel 1 nævnte aftale og kapitel XI i De forenede Nationers havretskonvention
        anvendes midlertidigt fra den 16. november 1994.
                                                                              På Rådets vegne
                                                                                           21
 ---pagebreak--- UNITED
NATIONS                                                                      A
                 General Assembly
                                                               Distr.
                                                               GENERAL
                                                               A/48/950
                                                               9 June 1994
                                                               ORIGINAL:  ENGLISH
Forty-eighth session
Agenda item 36
                                    LAW OF THE SEA
                Consultations of the Secretary-General on outstanding
                issues relating to the deep seabed mining provisions
                of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
                          Report of the Secretary-General
                                       CONTENTS
                                                               Paragraphs   Page
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL                                  1-28         2
                                        Annexes
  I.  Draft resolution and draft Agreement relating to the Implementation
      of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
      of 10 December 1982                                                     8
II.   Informal Understanding to be read by the President of the General
      Assembly at the time of the adoption of the resolution                 32
 94-24482 (E)    150G94    15/06/94
                                                                           -11
 ---pagebreak--- A/48/950
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 Page 2
                         REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
1.    In July 1990 the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, took the
initiative to convene informal consultations aimed at achieving universal
participation in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The
Secretary-General stressed the importance of securing general acceptance of the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an instrument which represented
many years of negotiations and which had already made a significant contribution
to the international legal maritime order. He pointed out that though he would
continue to encourage all States which had not done so to ratify or accede to
the Convention, it had to be acknowledged that there were problems with some
aspects of the deep seabed mining provisions of the Convention which had
prevented some States from ratifying or acceding to the Convention.
2.    He noted that in the eight years that had elapsed since the Convention was
adopted certain significant political and economic changes had occurred which
had had a marked effect on the regime for deep seabed mining contained in the
Convention. Prospects for commercial mining of deep seabed minerals had receded
into the next century, which was not what was envisaged during the negotiations
at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. The general
economic climate had been transformed as a result of the changing perception
with respect to the roles of the public and private sectors. There was a
discernible shift towards a more market-oriented economy. In addition, the
Secretary-General made mention of the emergence of a new spirit of international
cooperation in resolving outstanding problems of regional and global concern.
These factors were to be taken into account in considering the problems with
respect to deep seabed mining. 1/
3.    Thus began a series of informal consultations under the aegis of the
Secretary-General on outstanding issues relating to the deep seabed mining
provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
4.    These informal consultations took place in the years 1990 to 1994, during
which 15 meetings were convened. 2/ They can be conveniently divided into two
phases. The first phase was devoted to the identification of issues of concern
to some States, the approach to be taken in examining them and the search for
solutions. During the second phase more precision was given to the results
reached so far; additional points were raised for consideration and participants
directed their attention to an examination of consolidated texts embodying these
solutions and on the procedure whereby they might be adopted.
The first phase
5.    During the initial part of this phase the consultations identified nine
issues as representing areas of difficulty: costs to States parties; the
Enterprise; decision-making; the Review Conference; transfer of technology;
production limitation; compensation fund; financial terms of contract; and
environmental considerations. After examining the various approaches that might
be taken in the examination of these issues, there was general agreement on an
approach which enabled participants to examine all the outstanding issues with a
                                                                              /. . .
 ---pagebreak--- iiwwuiwfcswawwi^^
                                                                             A/48/950
                                                                             English
                                                                             Page 3
   view to resolving them and to decide how to deal with those that might remain
   unresolved.
   6.    Participants then began to review all of these issues seriatim. This
   review was based on information notes compiled by the Secretariat containing
   background information, questions that needed to be addressed and possible
   approaches for the resolution of these issues.
   7.    In the course of six informal consultations held during the years 1990 and
   1991, participants completed the consideration of all the outstanding issues
   relating to the deep seabed mining provisions of the United Nations Convention
   on the Law of the Sea. It can fairly be said that a certain measure of general
   agreement was emerging on these issues.
   8.    The results of the Secretary-General's informal consultations held in 1990
   and 1991 were set out in the summary of informal consultations conducted by the
   Secretary-General on the law of the sea during 1990 and 1991, dated
   31 January 1992, and in an information note dated 26 May 1992. These results
   fell under two categories. First, general agreement seemed to have been reached
   on relatively detailed solutions on: costs to States parties, the Enterprise,
   decision-making, Review Conference and transfer of technology. Secondly, with
   respect to production limitation, the compensation fund and financial terms of
   contract it was generally agreed that it was neither necessary nor prudent to
   formulate a new set of detailed rules for these items. Accordingly, for those
   items the information note set out general principles to be applied when
   commercial production of deep seabed minerals was imminent.
   The second phase
    9.    In 1992 I continued the informal consultations initiated by my predecessor.
   During this phase the consultations were open to all delegations. Some 75 to 90
   delegations attended these meetings. In the first three rounds of this phase,
   consideration was given to the nine issues in order to give more precision to
   the results reached so far in the consultations. Additional points were
   submitted for consideration on the following issues: costs to States parties;
   the Enterprise; decision-making; Review Conference; and transfer of technology.
   During these consultations it was decided to remove the issue of environmental
   considerations from the list of issues, since it was no longer considered to be
   a controversial issue in the context of deep seabed mining.
    10. At the informal consultations held on 28 and 29 January 1993, it was
   generally felt among participants that the stage had been reached when a text
   based on a more operational approach should be prepared in a form which could be
    the basis of an agreement.
    11. In accordance with this request, an information note dated 8 April 1993 was
   prepared. This information note contained two parts:
          (a) Part A dealt with various procedural approaches with respect to the
    use to be made of the results of the consultations. The four approaches could
    be summarized as follows:
                                                                                  /..
                                                                                   -Ik'
 ---pagebreak--- A/48/950
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Page 4
      (i) A contractual instrument such as a protocol amending the Convention;
     (ii) An interpretative agreement consisting of understandings on the
           interpretation and application of the Convention;
    (iii) An interpretative agreement on the establishment of an initial
           Authority and an initial Enterprise during an interim regime
           accompanied by a procedural arrangement for the convening of a
           conference to establish the definitive regime for the commercial
           production of deep seabed minerals when such production became
           feasible;
     (iv)  An agreement additional to the Convention providing for the transition
           between the initial phase and the definitive regime, in particular,
           the Authority would be mandated to develop solutions for issues still
           outstanding on the entry into force of the Convention;
      (b) Part B set out an operationally directed formulation of the results
reached so far in the consultations. It was divided into two sections:
      (i) Arrangements following the entry into force of the Convention;
     (ii)  Draft texts concerning the definitive deep seabed mining regime.
12. The procedural approaches were reviewed during consultations held on 27 and
28 April 1993. Certain basic elements emerged from the review of these
approaches. It was generally agreed that, whatever approach might be adopted,
it must be of a legally binding nature. It was also pointed out that a duality
of regimes must be avoided. Finally, as the position of States which have
ratified or acceded to the Convention must be respected, it was considered
useful to examine the role that the notion of implied or tacit consent might
play in protecting their positions.
13. For the next round of consultations, held from 2 to 6 August 1993, an
information note dated 4 June 1993 was circulated which updated parts A
arid B (i) of the information note of 8 April 1993 to reflect the observations
made during the previous round of consultations. During the course of this
round of consultations a paper dated 3 August 1993 prepared by representatives
of several developed and developing States was circulated among delegations as a
contribution to the process of the consultations. It was understood that the
paper, which was commonly known as the "boat paper", did not necessarily reflect
the position of any of the delegations involved, but that it was considered to
provide a useful basis for negotiation.
14. Thereafter, while addressing the substantive issues contained in the
information note dated 4 June 1993, delegations also made cross-references to
the relevant portions of the "boat paper". That paper was divided into three
parts: (i) a draft resolution for adoption by the General Assembly; (ii) a
draft Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea; and (iii) two annexes. Annex I contained the
agreed conclusions of the Secretary-General's consultations and annex II was
entitled "Consequential adjustments".
                                                                              /. • -
 ---pagebreak---                                                                          A/48/950
                                                                         English
                                                                         Page 5
15. At the last round of consultations held in 1993 (8-12 November),
participants had before them three documents: the information note dated
4 June 1993; a new version of the "boat paper" consolidating the two annexes to
the original paper into one; and a paper entitled "Agreement on the
Implementation of Part XI and Annexes III and IV of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea", submitted by the delegation of Sierra Leone.
At this November meeting participants completed the review of all the items
contained in the information note dated 4 June 1993. After having completed
consideration of those issues, delegations embarked upon a renewed examination
of the issue of "Costs to States parties and institutional arrangements", but
this time based essentially on the "boat paper".
16. On 16 November 1993, the Convention on the Law of the Sea received its
sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession, which means that, in
accordance with its terms (article 308), it will enter into force on
16 November 1994. The General Assembly itself invited all States to participate
in the consultations and to increase efforts to achieve universal participation
in the Convention as early as possible. 3/   The imminent entry into force of the
Convention introduced a sense of urgency to the informal consultations.
17. During the first round held in 1994 (31 January-4 February), the
consultations examined a revised version of the "boat paper", dated
November 1993. This revision took into account the discussions which had taken
place during the Secretary-General's informal consultations held in
November 1993. The work of the current round of consultations focused on some
crucial issues:
      (a) Decision-making, in particular the question of the relationship
between the Authority and the Council, and the question as to which group of
States in the Council should be considered chambers for the purposes of
decision-making in the Council;
      (b) Whether the administrative expenses of the Authority should be met by
assessed contributions of its members, including the provisional members of the
Authority, or through the budget of the United Nations;
      (c) The issue of provisional application of the Agreement and of
provisional membership in the Authority.
During this round of consultations progress was made on the latter two issues.
A revised version of the document submitted by the delegation of Sierra Leone
was submitted to this round of consultations.
 18. The second round of the Secretary-General's informal consultations in 1994
was held from 4 to 8 April. The meeting had before it a further updated version
of the "boat paper" entitled "Draft resolution and draft Agreement relating to
 the Implementation of Part XI of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea", dated 14 February 1994.
 19.  Participants undertook an article-by-article review of the draft Agreement
Attention was then focused on the two most important issues facing the
 consultations: decision-making in the Council, and the Enterprise. These
                                                                              /. . .
                                                                                     H -
 ---pagebreak--- A/48/950
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Page 6
issues, which lay at the heart of the consultations, proved most difficult to
resolve. From the outset of the consultations it was evident that these issues
could only be resolved in the final stages of this process, when a clearer
picture of the results of the consultations had emerged. With respect to
decision-making the debate was directed at the system of chambered voting, in
particular whether the categories or groups of States, mainly developing States,
should be treated as chambers for the purposes of decision-making in the
Council. The discussion on the Enterprise centred on the type of mechanism
which would trigger the commencement of its operations as well as its functions.
20. Revisions were made to the draft Agreement in the light of the debates on
the various issues. This in fact was a unique feature of this round of
consultations, reflecting the urgency of the situation. The revisions related
to provisional application of the Agreement; provisional membership in the
Authority; the treatment of the registered pioneer investors; and production
policy.
21. Based on these revisions, the draft resolution and draft Agreement relating
to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea were revised in their entirety and a revised text was issued on
8 April 1994, the last day of the meeting.
22. During this round of consultations, according to many delegations,
significant progress was achieved. It appeared that solutions were found to
several important issues, including decision-making, the Enterprise and the
treatment of the registered pioneer investors. However, not all the issues were
resolved in this round of consultations.
23. The last meeting of the Secretary-General's consultations was held from
31 May to 3 June 1994. The primary purpose of this final round of consultations
was the harmonization of the text in the various language versions of the draft
resolution and draft Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the
1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The meeting had before it
the draft resolution and draft Agreement dated 15 April 1994 which was revised
on the basis of discussions in the previous round of consultations and a
corrigendum to the document dated 23 May 1994. Two documents (SG/LOS/CRP.1 and
SG/LOS/CRP.2), containing suggested amendments of a drafting nature prepared by
the Secretariat, were also submitted to the meeting in order to facilitate the
process of harmonizing the language versions of the text.
24. The first part of the meeting addressed the substantive issues that were
still pending, and solutions were found for some of those issues. Delegations,
however, continued their search for solutions on matters relating, inter alia,
to the treatment of the registered pioneer investors and the issue of
representation in the Council. The second part of the meeting was devoted to
the task of harmonizing the language versions of the draft resolution and draft
Agreement. The final part dealt with the decisions to be taken with regard to
the convening of a resumed forty-eighth session of the General Assembly to adopt
the draft resolution and draft Agreement.
25. At the close of the meeting, delegations were presented with a revised text
 (SG/LOS/CRP.1/Rev. 1), dated 3 June 1994. That document elicited a few drafting
                                                                             /. . .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                         A/48/950
                                                                        English
                                                                         Page 7
comments which are reflected in the text of the draft resolution and draft
Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, contained in annex I to
the present report. A proposed solution to the question of the issue of
representation in the Council is to be found in the informal understanding
contained in annex II.
26. At the conclusion of the informal consultations the delegation of the
Russian Federation made a statement reserving its position in view of the fact
that a number of proposals it had made had not been reflected in the draft
Agreement. In reply, it was pointed out that all proposals made by delegations
or groups had been thoroughly examined without exception but that it had not
been possible to accept every one of them.
27. The consultations then indicated that Member States wished to convene a
resumed forty-eighth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations from
27 to 29 July 1994, for adoption of the resolution. They further wished that,
after the adoption of the resolution, the Agreement would be immediately opened
for signature.
28. I wish to recall that the objective of the consultations was to achieve
wider participation in the Convention from the major industrialized States in
order to reach the goal of universality. Accordingly, it is with satisfaction
that I report to the General Assembly that these consultations, initiated by my
predecessor and continued by me, have led to a result which in my view could
form the basis of a general agreement on the issues that were the subject of the
consultations. In the light of the outcome, I consider that I have fulfilled my
mandate.
                                      Notes
     1/   See A/45/721 and A/46/724.
     2/   Informal consultations were held on the following dates:
19 July 1990; 30 October 1990; 25 March 1991; 23 July 1991; 14 and
15 October 1991; 10 and 11 December 1991; 16 and 17 June 1992; 6 and
7 August 1992; 28 and 29 January 1993; 27 and 28 April 1993; 2-6 August 1993
8-12 November 1993; 31 January-4 February 1994; 4-8 April 1994; and 31 May-
3 June 1994.
     3/   General Assembly resolution 48/28.
                                                                             /.
                                                                                 -IX -
 ---pagebreak--- A/48/950
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Page 8
                                     ANNEX I
             Draft resolution and draft Agreement relating to the
             Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations
             Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
                                 I.  INTRODUCTION
     This is a revised version of document SG/LOS/CRP.l/Rev.l of 3 June 1994.
It incorporates the changes made during the last meeting of the final session of
the informal consultations, held on 3 June 1994. In addition to a few purely
editorial corrections, the changes are:
      (a) Page 8, article 10
          At the end of the article, add the following
               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly
          authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement.
               DONE AT NEW YORK, this ... day of July, one thousand nine hundred
          and ninety-four.
     (b)  Page 20. section 6, paragraph 1 (d), line 2
          Delete those derived
     (c)  Page 20. section 6, paragraph 1 (d) (ii), line 1
          Delete to markets
     (d)  Page 22. section 8, paragraph 1 (e) , line 1
          Delete financial
     (e)  Page 23. section 8. paragraph 3, last line
          Delete for each phase.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                           A/48/950
                                                                          English
                                                                          Page 9
             II.  DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
      The General Assembly,
      Prompted by the desire to achieve universal participation in the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (hereinafter
referred to as "the Convention") 1/ and to promote appropriate representation
in the institutions established by it,
      Reaffirming that the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the
limits of national jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as the "Area"), as well
as the resources of the Area, are the common heritage of mankind, 2/
      Recalling that the Convention in its Part XI and related provisions
 (hereinafter referred to as "Part XI") established a regime for the Area and its
resources,
      Taking note of the consolidated provisional final report of the Preparatory
Commission for the International Seabed Authority and for the International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 3_/
      Recalling its resolution 48/28 of 9 December 1993 on the law of the sea,
      Recognizing that political and economic changes, including in particular a
growing reliance on market principles, have necessitated the re-evaluation of
some aspects of, the regime for the Area and its resources.
      Noting the initiative of the Secretary-General which began in 1990 to
promote dialogue aimed at achieving universal participation in the Convention,
      Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of his
informal consultations, including the draft of an agreement relating to the
implementation of Part XI,
      Considering that the objective of universal participation in the Convention
may best be achieved by the adoption of an agreement relating to the
implementation of Part XI,
      Recognizing the need to provide for the provisional application of such an
agreement from the date of entry into force of the Convention on
16 November 1994,
      1/   Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of
the Sea, vol. XVII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.V.3), document
A/CONF.62/122.
      2/   General Assembly resolution 2749 (XXV); article 136 of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
      3/   LOS/PCN/130 and Add.l.
                                                                              /• ••
                                                                                  ~1o
 ---pagebreak--- A/48/950
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Page 10
      I.   Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report on
the informal consultations;
      2
        -  Reaffirms the unified character of the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982;
      3.   Adopts the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (hereinafter
referred to as "the Agreement"), the text of which is annexed to the present
resolution;
      4.  Affirms that the Agreement shall be interpreted and applied together
with Part XI as a single instrument;
      5.   Considers that future ratifications or formal confirmations of or
accessions to the Convention shall represent also consent to be bound by the
Agreement and that no State or entity may establish its consent to be bound by
the Agreement unless it has previously established or establishes at the same
time its consent to be bound by the Convention;
      6.   Calls upon States which consent to the adoption of the Agreement to
refrain from any act which would defeat its object and purpose ;
      7.   Expresses its satisfaction at the entry into force of the Convention
on 16 November 1994;
      8
        •  Decides to fund the administrative expenses of the International
Seabed Authority in accordance with section 1, paragraph 14, of the annex to the
Agreement ;
      9.   Requests the Secretary-General to transmit immediately certified
copies of the Agreement to the States and entities referred to in article 3
thereof, with a view to facilitating universal participation in the Convention
and the Agreement, and to draw attention to articles 4 and 5 of the Agreement;
      10. Also requests the Secretary-General to open the Agreement for
signature in accordance with article 3 thereof immediately after its adoption;
      II. Urges all States and entities referred to in article 3 of the
Agreement to consent to its provisional application as from 16 November 1994 and
to establish their consent to be bound by the Agreement at the earliest possible
date ;
      12. Also urges all such States and entities that have not already done so
to take all appropriate steps to ratify, formally confirm or accede to the
Convention at the earliest possible date in order to ensure universal
participation in the Convention;
      13. Calls upon the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed
Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to take into
account the terms of the Agreement when drawing up its final report.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                         A/48/950
                                                                        English
                                                                        Page 11
              III.  DRAFT AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
                    PART XI OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE
                    LAW OF THE SEA OF 10 DECEMBER 1982
     The States Parties to this Agreement.
     Recognizing the important contribution of the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (hereinafter referred to as "the
Convention") to the maintenance of peace, justice and progress for all peoples
of the world,
     Reaffirming that the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the
limits of national jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as "the Area"), as well
as the resources of the Area, are the common heritage of mankind,
     Mindful of the importance of the Convention for the protection and
preservation of the marine environment and of the growing concern for the global
environment,
     Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
on the results of the informal consultations among States held from 1990 to 1994
on outstanding issues relating to Part XI and related provisions of the
Convention (hereinafter referred to as "Part XI"),
     Noting the political and economic changes, including market-oriented
approaches, affecting the implementation of Part XI,
     Wishing to facilitate universal participation in the Convention,
     Considering that an agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI
would best meet that objective,
     Have agreed as follows:
                                    Article 1
                            Implementation of Part XI
1.   The States Parties to this Agreement undertake to implement Part XI in
accordance with this Agreement.
2.   The Annex forms an integral part of this Agreement.
                                    Article 2
                 Relationship between this Agreement and Part XI
1.   The provisions of this Agreement and Part XI shall be interpreted and
applied together as a single instrument. In the event of any inconsistency
                                                                                 -V. -
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between this Agreement and Part XI, the provisions of this Agreement shall
prevail.
2.   Articles 309 to 319 of the Convention shall apply to this Agreement as they
apply to the Convention.
                                    Article 3
                                    Signature
     This Agreement shall remain open for signature at United Nations
Headquarters by the States and entities referred to in article 305,
paragraph 1 (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) , of the Convention for 12 months from the
date of its adoption.
                                    Article 4
                               Consent to be bound
1.   After the adoption of this Agreement, any instrument of ratification or
formal confirmation of or accession to the Convention shall also represent
consent to be bound by this Agreement.
2.   No State or entity may establish its consent to be bound by this Agreement
unless it has previously established or establishes at the same time its consent
to be bound by the Convention.
3.   A State or entity referred to in article 3 may express its consent to be
bound by this Agreement by:
      (a) Signature not subject to ratification, formal confirmation or the
procedure set out in article 5;
      (b) Signature subject to ratification or formal confirmation, followed by
ratification or formal confirmation;
      (c) Signature subject to the procedure set out in article 5; or
      (d) Accession.
4.   Formal confirmation by the entities referred to in article 305,
paragraph 1 (f), of the Convention shall be in accordance with Annex IX of the
Convention.
5.   The instruments of ratification, formal confirmation or accession shall be
deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
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                                     Article 5
                               Simplified procedure
1.   A State or entity which has deposited before the date of the adoption of
this Agreement an instrument of ratification or formal confirmation of or
accession to the Convention and which has signed this Agreement in accordance
with article 4, paragraph 3 (c) , shall be considered to have established its
consent to be bound by this Agreement 12 months after the date of its adoption,
unless that State or entity notifies the depositary in writing before that date
that it is not availing itself of the simplified procedure set out in this
article.
2.   In the event of such notification, consent to be bound by this Agreement
shall be established in accordance with article 4, paragraph 3 (b) .
                                     Article 6
                                 Entry into force
1.   This Agreement shall enter into force 30 days after the date on which
40 States have established their consent to be bound in accordance with
articles 4 and 5, provided that such States include at least seven of the States
referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of resolution II of the Third United Nations
Conference on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter referred to as "resolution II")
and that at least five of those States are developed States. If these
conditions for entry into force are fulfilled before 16 November 1994, this
Agreement i shall enter into force on 16 November 1994.
2.   For each State or entity establishing its consent to be bound by this
Agreement after the requirements set out in paragraph 1 have been fulfilled,
this Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of
establishment of its consent to be bound.
                                     Article 7
                              Provisional application
1.   If on 16 November 1994 this Agreement has not entered into force, it shall
be applied provisionally pending its entry into force by:
      (a) States which have consented to its adoption in the General Assembly of
the United Nations, except any such State which before 16 November 1994 notifies
the depositary in writing either that it will not so apply this Agreement or
that it will consent to such application only upon subsequent signature or
notification in writing;
      (b) States and entities which sign this Agreement, except any such State
or entity which notifies the depositary in writing at the time of signature that
it will not so apply this Agreement ,-
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      (c) States and entities which consent to its provisional application by so
notifying the depositary in writing;
      (d) States which accede to this Agreement.
2.   All such States and entities shall apply'this Agreement provisionally in
accordance with their national or internal laws and regulations, with effect
from 16 November 1994 or the date of signature, notification of consent or
accession, if later.
3.   Provisional application shall terminate upon the date of entry into force
of this Agreement. In any event, provisional application shall terminate on
16 November 1998 if at that date the requirement in article 6, paragraph 1, of
consent to be bound by this Agreement by at least seven of the States (of which
at least five must be developed States) referred to in paragraph l (a) of
resolution II has not been fulfilled.
                                    Article 8
                                 States Parties
1.   For the purposes of this Agreement, "States Parties" means States which
have consented to be bound by this Agreement and for which this Agreement is in
force.
2.   This Agreement applies mutatis mutandis to the entities referred to in
article 305, paragraph 1 (c), (d), (e) and (f), of the Convention which become
Parties to this Agreement in accordance with the conditions relevant to each,
and to that extent "States Parties" refers to those entities.
                                    Article 9
                                    Depositary
     The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the depositary of this
Agreement.
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                                   Article 10
                                 Authentic texts
     The original of this Agreement, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with
the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly
authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement.
     DONE AT NEW YORK, this ... day of July, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-four.
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                                     ANNEX
              SECTION 1.  COSTS TO STATES PARTIES AND INSTITUTIONAL
                          ARRANGEMENTS
1.   The International Seabed Authority (hereinafter referred to as "the
Authority") is the organization through which States Parties to the Convention
shall, in accordance with the regime for the Area established in Part XI and
this Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a
view to administering the resources of the Area. The powers and functions of
the Authority shall be those expressly conferred upon it by the Convention. The
Authority shall have such incidental powers, consistent with the Convention, as
are implicit in, and necessary for, the exercise of those powers and functions
with respect to activities in the Area.
2.   In order to minimize costs to States Parties, all organs and subsidiary
bodies to be established under the Convention and this Agreement shall be
cost-effective. This principle shall also apply to the frequency, duration and
scheduling of meetings.
3.   The setting up and the functioning of the organs and subsidiary bodies of
the Authority shall be based on an evolutionary approach, taking into account
the functional needs of the organs and subsidiary bodies concerned in order that
they may discharge effectively their respective responsibilities at various
stages of the development of activities in the Area.
4.   The early functions of the Authority upon entry into force of the
Convention shall be carried out by the Assembly, the Council, the Secretariat,
the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee. The functions of
the Economic Planning Commission shall be performed by the Legal and Technical
Commission until such time as the Council decides otherwise or until the
approval of the first plan of work for exploitation.
5.   Between the entry into force of the Convention and the approval of the
first plan of work for exploitation, the Authority shall concentrate on:
     (a) Processing of applications for approval of plans of work for
exploration in accordance with Part XI and this Agreement;
     (b) Implementation of decisions of the Preparatory Commission for the
International Seabed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of
the Sea (hereinafter referred to as "the Preparatory Commission") relating to
the registered pioneer investors and their certifying States, including their
rights and obligations, in accordance with article 308, paragraph 5, of the
Convention and resolution II, paragraph 13;
     (c) Monitoring of compliance with plans of work for exploration approved
in the form of contracts;
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      (d) Monitoring and review of trends and developments relating to deep
seabed mining activities, including regular analysis of world metal market
conditions and metal prices, trends and prospects;
      (e) Study of the potential impact of mineral production from the Area on
the economies of developing land-based producers of those minerals which are
likely to be most seriously affected, with a view to minimizing their
difficulties and assisting them in their economic adjustment, taking into
account the work done in this regard by the Preparatory Commission;
      (f) Adoption of rules, regulations and procedures necessary for the
conduct of activities in the Area as they progress. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Annex III, article 17, paragraph 2 (b) and (c) , of the Convention,
such rules, regulations and procedures shall take into account the terms of this
Agreement, the prolonged delay in commercial deep seabed mining and the likely
pace of activities in the Area;
      (g) Adoption of rules, regulations and procedures incorporating applicable
standards for the protection and preservation of the marine environment;
      (h) Promotion and encouragement of the conduct of marine scientific
research with respect to activities in the Area and the collection and
dissemination of the results of such research and analysis, when available, with
particular emphasis on research related to the environmental impact of
activities in the Area;
      (i) Acquisition of scientific knowledge and monitoring of the development
of marine technology relevant to activities in the Area, in particular
technology relating to the protection and preservation of the marine
environment ;
      (j) Assessment of available data relating to prospecting and exploration;
      (k) Timely elaboration of rules, regulations and procedures for
exploitation, including those relating to the protection and preservation of
the marine environment.
6.    (a) An application for approval of a plan of work for exploration shall be
considered by the Council following the receipt of a recommendation on the
application from the Legal and Technical Commission. The processing of an
application for approval of a plan of work for exploration shall be in
accordance with the provisions of the Convention, including Annex III thereof,
and this Agreement, and subject to the following:
      (i) A plan of work for exploration submitted on behalf of a State or
          entity, or any component of such entity, referred to in resolution II,
          paragraph 1 (a) (ii) or (iii), other than a registered pioneer
          investor, which had already undertaken substantial activities in the
          Area prior to the entry into force of the Convention, or its successor
          in interest, shall be considered to have met the financial and
          technical qualifications necessary for approval of a plan of work if
          the sponsoring State or States certify that the applicant has expended
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           an amount equivalent to at least US$ 30 million in research and
           exploration activities and has expended no less than 10 per cent of
           that amount in the location, survey and evaluation of the area
           referred to in the plan of work. If the plan of work otherwise
           satisfies the requirements of the Convention and any rules,
           regulations and procedures adopted pursuant thereto, it shall be
           approved by the Council in the form of a contract. The provisions of
           section 3, paragraph 11, of this Annex shall be interpreted and
           applied accordingly;
     (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of resolution II, paragraph 8 (a), a
           registered pioneer investor may request approval of a plan of work for
           exploration within 36 months of the entry into force of the
           Convention. The plan of work for exploration shall consist of
           documents, reports and other data submitted to the Preparatory
           Commission both before and after registration and shall be accompanied
           by a certificate of compliance, consisting of a factual report
           describing the status of fulfilment of obligations under the pioneer
           investor regime, issued by the Preparatory Commission in accordance
           with resolution II, paragraph 11 (a) . Such a plan of work shall be
           considered to be approved. Such an approved plan of work shall be in
           the form of a contract concluded between the Authority and the
           registered pioneer investor in accordance with Part XI and this
           Agreement. The fee of US$ 250,000 paid pursuant to resolution II,
           paragraph 7 (a) , shall be deemed to be the fee relating to the
           exploration phase pursuant to section 8, paragraph 3, of this-Annex.
           Section 3, paragraph 11, of this Annex shall be interpreted and
           applied accordingly;
    (iii)  In accordance with the principle of non-discrimination, a contract
           with a State or entity or any component of such entity referred to in
           subparagraph (a) (i) shall include arrangements which shall be similar
            to and no less favourable than those agreed with any registered
           pioneer investor referred to in subparagraph (a) (ii) . If any of the
            States or entities or any components of such entities referred to in
            subparagraph (a) (i) are granted more favourable arrangements, the
            Council shall make similar and no less favourable arrangements with
            regard to the rights and obligations assumed by the registered pioneer
            investors referred to in subparagraph (a) (ii), provided that such
            arrangements do not affect or prejudice the interests of the
            Authority;
      (iv) A State sponsoring an application for a plan of work pursuant to the
            provisions of subparagraph (a) (i) or (ii) may be a State Party or a
            State which is applying this Agreement provisionally in accordance
            with article 7, or a State which is a member of the Authority on a
            provisional basis in accordance with paragraph 12;
       (v) Resolution II, paragraph 8 (c) , shall be interpreted and applied in
            accordance with subparagraph (a) (iv).
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      (b) The approval of a plan of work for exploration shall be in accordance
with article 153, paragraph 3, of the Convention.
7.   An application for approval of a plan of work shall be accompanied by an
assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activities and
by a description of a programme for océanographie and baseline environmental
studies in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures adopted by the
Authority.
8.   An application for approval of a plan of work for exploration, subject to
paragraph 6 (a) (i) or (ii) , shall be processed in accordance with the
procedures set out in section 3, paragraph 11, of this Annex.
9.   A plan of work for exploration shall be approved for a period of 15 years.
Upon the expiration of a plan of work for exploration, the contractor shall
apply for a plan of work for exploitation unless the contractor has already
done so or has obtained an extension for the plan of work for exploration.
Contractors may apply for such extensions for periods of not more than
five years each. Such extensions shall be approved if the contractor has made
efforts in good faith to comply with the requirements of the plan of work but
for reasons beyond the contractor's control has been unable to complete the
necessary preparatory work for proceeding to the exploitation stage or if the
prevailing economic circumstances do not justify proceeding to the exploitation
stage.
10. Designation,of a reserved area for the Authority in accordance with
Annex III, article 8, of the Convention shall take place in connection with
approval of an application for a plan of work for exploration or approval of an
application for a plan of work for exploration and exploitation.
11. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 9, an approved plan of work for
exploration which is sponsored by at least one State provisionally applying this
Agreement shall terminate if such a State ceases to apply this Agreement
provisionally and has not become a member on a provisional basis in accordance
with paragraph 12 or has not become a State Party.
12. Upon the entry into force of this Agreement, States and entities referred
to in article 3 of this Agreement which have been applying it provisionally in
accordance with article 7 and for which it is not in force may continue to be
members of the Authority on a provisional basis pending its entry into force for
such States and entities, in accordance with the following subparagraphs:
      (a) If this Agreement enters into force before 16 November 1996, such
States and entities shall be entitled to continue to participate as members of
the Authority on a provisional basis upon notification to the depositary of the
Agreement by such a State or entity of its intention to participate as a member
on a provisional basis. Such membership shall terminate either on
16 November 1996 or upon the entry into force of this Agreement and the
Convention for such member, whichever is earlier. The Council may, upon the
request of the State or entity concerned, extend such membership beyond
16 November 1996 for a further period or periods not exceeding a total of
two years provided that the Council is satisfied that the State or entity
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concerned has been making efforts in good faith to become a party to the
Agreement and the Convention;
      (b) If this Agreement enters into force after 15 November 1996, such
States and entities may request the Council to grant continued membership in the
Authority on a provisional basis for a period or periods not extending beyond
16 November 1998. The Council shall grant such membership with effect from the
date of the request if it is satisfied that the State or entity has been making
efforts in good faith to become a party to the Agreement and the Convention;
      (c) States and entities which are members of the Authority on a
provisional basis in accordance with subparagraph (a) or (b) shall apply the
terms of Part XI and this Agreement in accordance with their national or
internal laws, regulations and annual budgetary appropriations and shall have
the same rights and obligations as other members, including:
      (i) The obligation to contribute to the administrative budget of the
          Authority in accordance with the scale of assessed contributions;
     (ii) The right to sponsor an application for approval of a plan of work for
          exploration. In the case of entities whose components are natural or
          juridical persons possessing the nationality of more than one State, a
          plan of work for exploration shall not be approved unless all the
          States whose natural or juridical persons comprise those entities are
          States Parties or members on a provisional basis;
      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 9, an approved plan of
work in the form of a contract for exploration which was sponsored pursuant to
subparagraph (c) (ii) by a State which was a member on a provisional basis shall
terminate if such membership ceases and the State or entity has not become a
State Party;
      (e) If such a member has failed to make its assessed contributions or
otherwise failed to comply with its obligations in accordance with this
paragraph, its membership on a provisional basis shall be terminated.
13. The reference in Annex III, article 10, of the Convention to performance
which has not been satisfactory shall be interpreted to mean that the contractor
has failed to comply with the requirements of an approved plan of work in spite
of a written warning or warnings from the Authority to the contractor to comply
therewith.
14. The Authority shall have its own budget. Until the end of the year
following the year during which this Agreement enters into force, the
administrative expenses of the Authority shall be met through the budget of the
United Nations. Thereafter, the administrative expenses of the Authority shall
be met by assessed contributions of its members, including any members on a
provisional basis, in accordance with articles 171, subparagraph (a), and 173 of
the Convention and this Agreement, until the Authority has sufficient funds from
other sources to meet those expenses. The Authority shall not exercise the
power referred to in article 174, paragraph 1, of the Convention to borrow funds
to finance its administrative budget.
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15. The Authority shall elaborate and adopt, in accordance with article 162,
paragraph 2 (o) (ii), of the Convention, rules, regulations and procedures based
on the principles contained in sections 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Annex, as well
as any additional rules, regulations and procedures necessary to facilitate the
approval of plans of work for exploration or exploitation, in accordance with
the following subparagraphs:
      (a) The Council may undertake such elaboration any time it deems that all
or any of such rules, regulations or procedures are required for the conduct of
activities in the Area, or when it determines that commercial exploitation is
imminent, or at the request of a State whose national intends to apply for
approval of a plan of work for exploitation;
      (b) If a request is made by a State referred to in subparagraph (a) the
Council shall, in accordance with article 162, paragraph 2 (o), of the
Convention, complete the adoption of such rules, regulations and procedures
within two years of the request;
      (c) If the Council has not completed the elaboration of the rules,
regulations and procedures relating to exploitation within the prescribed time
and an application for approval of a plan of work for exploitation is pending,
it shall none the less consider and provisionally approve such plan of work
based on the provisions of the Convention and any rules, regulations and
procedures that the Council may have adopted provisionally, or on the basis of
the norms contained in the Convention and the terms and principles contained in
this Annex as well as the principle of non-discrimination among contractors.
16. The draft rules, regulations and procedures and any recommendations
relating to the provisions of Part XI, as contained in the reports and
recommendations of the Preparatory Commission, shall be taken into account by
the Authority in the adoption of rules, regulations and procedures in accordance
with Part XI and this Agreement.
17. The relevant provisions of Part XI, section 4, of the Convention shall be
interpreted and applied in accordance with this Agreement.
                           SECTION 2.  THE ENTERPRISE
1.   The Secretariat of the Authority shall perform the functions of the
Enterprise until it begins to operate independently of the Secretariat. The
Secretary-General of the Authority shall appoint from within the staff of the
Authority an interim Director-General to oversee the performance of these
functions by the Secretariat.
     These functions shall be:
      (a) Monitoring and review of trends and developments relating to deep
seabed mining activities, including regular analysis of world metal market
conditions and metal prices, trends and prospects;
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      (b) Assessment of the results of the conduct of marine scientific research
with respect to activities in the Area, with particular emphasis on research
related to the environmental impact of activities in the Area;
      (c) Assessment of available data relating to prospecting and exploration,
including the criteria for such activities;
      (d) Assessment of technological developments relevant to activities in the
Area, in particular technology relating to the protection and preservation of
the marine environment;
      (e) Evaluation of information and data relating to areas reserved for the
Authority;
      (f)  Assessment of approaches to joint-venture operations;
      (g)  Collection of information on the availability of trained manpower;
      (h) Study of managerial policy options for the administration of the
Enterprise at different stages of its operations.
2.    The Enterprise shall conduct its initial deep seabed mining operations
through joint ventures. Upon the approval of a plan of work for exploitation
for an entity other than the Enterprise, or upon receipt by the Council of an
application for a joint-venture operation with the Enterprise, the Council shall
take up the issue of the functioning of the Enterprise independently o f the
Secretariat of\the Authority. If joint-venture operations with the Enterprise
accord with sound commercial principles, the Council shall issue a directive
pursuant to article 170, paragraph 2, of the Convention providing for such
independent functioning.
3.    The obligation of States Parties to fund one mine site of the Enterprise as
provided for in Annex IV, article 11, paragraph 3, of the Convention shall not
apply and States Parties shall be under no obligation to finance any of the
operations in any mine site of the Enterprise or under its joint-venture
arrangements.
4.    The obligations applicable to contractors shall apply to the Enterprise.
Notwithstanding the provisions of article 153, paragraph 3, and Annex III,
article 3, paragraph 5, of the Convention, a plan of work for the Enterprise
upon its approval shall be in the form of a contract concluded between the
Authority and the Enterprise.
 5.   A contractor which has contributed a particular area to the Authority as a
 reserved area has the right of first refusal to enter into a joint-venture
arrangement with the Enterprise for exploration and exploitation of that area.
 If the Enterprise does not submit an application for a plan of work for
 activities in respect of such a reserved area within 15 years of the
 commencement of its functions independent of the Secretariat of the Authority or
 within 15 years of the date on which that area is reserved for the Authority,
 whichever is the later, the contractor which contributed the area shall be
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entitled to apply for a plan of work for that area provided it offers in good
faith to include the Enterprise as a joint-venture partner.
6.   Article 170, paragraph 4, Annex IV and other provisions of the Convention
relating to the Enterprise shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with
this section.
                            SECTION 3.  DECISION-MAKING
1.   The general policies of the Authority shall be established by the Assembly
in collaboration with the Council.
2.   As a general rule, decision-making in the organs of the Authority should be
by consensus.
3.    If all efforts to reach a decision by consensus have been exhausted,
decisions by voting in the Assembly on questions of procedure shall be taken by
a majority of members present and voting, and decisions on questions of
substance shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting,
as provided for in article 159, paragraph 8, of the Convention.
4.   Decisions of the Assembly on any matter for which the Council also has
competence or on any administrative, budgetary or financial matter shall be
based on the recommendations of the Council. If the Assembly does not accept
the recommendation of the Council on any matter, it shall return the matter to
the Council for further consideration. The Council shall reconsider the matter
in the light of the views expressed by the Assembly.
5.   If all efforts to reach a decision by consensus have been exhausted,
decisions by voting in the Council on questions of procedure shall be taken by a
majority of members present and voting, and decisions on questions of substance,
except where the Convention provides for decisions by consensus in the Council,
shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of 'members present and voting, provided
that such decisions are not opposed by a majority in any one of the chambers
referred to in paragraph 9. In taking decisions the Council shall seek to
promote the interests of all the members of the Authority.
6.   The Council may defer the taking of a decision in order to facilitate
further negotiation whenever it appears that all efforts at achieving consensus
on a question have not been exhausted.
7.   Decisions by the Assembly or the Council having financial or budgetary
implications shall be based on the recommendations of the Finance Committee.
8.   The provisions of article 161, paragraph 8 (b) and (c), of the Convention
shall not apply.
9.    (a) Each group of States elected under paragraph 15 (a) to (c) shall be
treated as a chamber for the purposes of voting in the Council. The developing
States elected under paragraph 15 (d) and (e) shall be treated as a single
chamber for the purposes of voting in the Council.
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      (b) Before electing the members of the Council, the Assembly shall
establish lists of countries fulfilling the criteria for membership in the
groups of States in paragraph 15 (a) to (d). If a State fulfils the criteria
for membership in more than one group, it may only be proposed by one group for
election to the Council and it shall represent only that group in voting in the
Council.
10. Each group of States in paragraph 15 (a) to (d) shall be represented in the
Council by those members nominated by that group. Each group shall nominate
only as many candidates as the number of seats required to be filled by that
group. When the number of potential candidates in each of the groups referred
to in paragraph 15 (a) to (e) exceeds the number of seats available in each of
those respective groups, as a general rule, the principle of rotation shall
apply. States members of each of those groups shall determine how this
principle shall apply in those groups.
11. (a) The Council shall approve a recommendation by the Legal and Technical
Commission for approval of a plan of work unless by a two-thirds majority of its
members present and voting, including a majority of members present and voting
in each of the chambers of the Council, the Council decides to disapprove a plan
of work. If the Council does not take a decision on a recommendation for
approval of a plan of work within a prescribed period, the recommendation shall
be deemed to have been approved by the Council at the end of that period. The
prescribed period shall normally be 60 days unless the Council decides to
provide for a longer period. If the Commission recommends the disapproval of a
plan of work «or does not make a recommendation, the Council may nevertheless
approve the plan of work in accordance with its rules of procedure for
decision-making on questions of substance.
      (b) The provisions of article 162, paragraph 2 (j), of the Convention
shall not apply.
12. Where a dispute arises relating to the disapproval of a plan of work, such
dispute shall be submitted to the dispute settlement procedures set out in the
Convention.
 13. Decisions by voting in the Legal and Technical Commission shall be by a
majority of members present and voting.
 14. Part XI, section 4, subsections B and C, of the Convention shall be
 interpreted and applied in accordance with this section.
 15. The Council shall consist of 36 members of the Authority elected by the
Assembly in the following order:
       (a) Four members from among those States Parties which, during the last
 five years for which statistics are available, have either consumed more than
 2 per cent in value terms of total world consumption or have had net imports of
 more than 2 per cent in value terms of total world imports of the commodities
 produced from the categories of minerals to be derived from the Area, provided
 that the four members shall include one State from the Eastern European region
 having the largest economy in that region in terms of gross domestic product and
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the State, on the date of entry into force of the Convention, having the largest
economy in terms of gross domestic product, if such States wish to be
represented in this group;
      (b) Four members from among the eight States Parties which have made the
largest investments in preparation for and in the conduct of activities in the
Area, either directly or through their nationals;
      (c) Four members from among States Parties which, on the basis of
production in areas under their jurisdiction, are major net exporters of the
categories of minerals to be derived from the Area, including at least two
developing States whose exports of such minerals have a substantial bearing upon
their economies;
      (d) Six members from among developing States Parties, representing special
interests. The special interests to be represented shall include those of
States with large populations, States which are land-locked or geographically
disadvantaged, island States, States which are major importers of the categories
of minerals to be derived from the Area, States which are potential producers of
such minerals and least developed States;
      (e) Eighteen members elected according to the principle of ensuring an
equitable geographical distribution of seats in the Council as a whole, provided
that each geographical region shall have at least one member elected under this
subparagraph. For this purpose, the geographical regions shall be Africa, Asia,
Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Europe and Others.
16. The provisions of article 161, paragraph 1, of the Convention shall not
apply.
                          SECTION 4.  REVIEW CONFERENCE
     The provisions relating to the Review Conference in article 155,
paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, of the Convention shall not apply. Notwithstanding the
provisions of article 314, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the Assembly, on the
recommendation of the Council, may undertake at any time a review of the matters
referred to in article 155, paragraph l, of the Convention. Amendments relating
to this Agreement and Part XI shall be subject to the procedures contained in
articles 314, 315 and 316 of the Convention, provided that the principles,
regime and other terms referred to in article 155, paragraph 2, of the
Convention shall be maintained and the rights referred to in paragraph 5 of that
article shall not be affected.
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                        SECTION 5.  TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
1.   In addition to the provisions of article 144 of the Convention, transfer of
technology for the purposes of Part XI shall be governed by the following
principles :
      (a) The Enterprise, and developing States wishing to obtain deep seabed
mining technology, shall seek to obtain such technology on fair and reasonable
commercial terms and conditions on the open market, or through joint-venture
arrangements;
      (b) If the Enterprise or developing States are unable to obtain deep
seabed mining technology, the Authority may request all or any of the
contractors and their respective sponsoring State or States to cooperate with it
in facilitating the acquisition of deep seabed mining technology by the
Enterprise or its joint venture, or by a developing State or States seeking to
acquire such technology on fair and reasonable commercial terms and conditions,
consistent with the effective protection of intellectual property rights.
States Parties undertake to cooperate fully and effectively with the Authority
for this purpose and to ensure that contractors sponsored by them also cooperate
fully with the Authority;
      (c) As a general rule, States Parties shall promote international
technical and scientific cooperation with regard to activities in "the Area
either between the parties concerned or by developing training, technical
assistance and scientific cooperation programmes in marine science and
technology and the protection and preservation of the marine environment.
2.   The provisions of Annex III, article 5, of the Convention shall not apply.
                          SECTION 6.  PRODUCTION POLICY
1.   The production policy of the Authority shall be based on the following
principles:
      (a) Development of the resources of the Area shall take place in
accordance with sound commercial principles ;
      (b) The provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, its
relevant codes and successor or superseding agreements shall apply with respect
to activities in the Area;
      (c) In particular, there shall be no subsidization of activities in the
Area except as may be permitted under the agreements referred to in
subparagraph (b) . Subsidization for the purpose of these principles shall be
defined in terms of the agreements referred to in subparagraph (b) ;
      (d) There shall be no discrimination between minerals derived from the
Area and from other sources. There shall be no preferential access to markets
for such minerals or for imports of commodities produced from such minerals, in
particular :
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                                             f
      (i)  By the use of tariff or non-tariff barriers; and
     (ii) Given by States Parties to such minerals or commodities produced by
their state enterprises or by natural or juridical persons which possess their
nationality or are controlled by them or their nationals;
      (e) The plan of work for exploitation approved by the Authority in respect
of each mining area shall indicate an anticipated production schedule which
shall include the estimated maximum amounts of minerals that would be produced
per year under the plan of work;
      (f) The following shall apply to the settlement of disputes concerning the
provisions of the agreements referred to in subparagraph (b):
      (i)  Where the States Parties concerned are parties to such agreements,
           they shall have recourse to the dispute settlement procedures of those
           agreements ;
     (ii)  where one or more of the States Parties concerned are not parties to
           such agreements, they shall have recourse to the dispute settlement
           procedures set out in the Convention;
      (g) In circumstances where a determination is made under the agreements
referred to in subparagraph (b) that a State Party has engaged in subsidization
which is prohibited or has resulted in adverse effects on the interests of
another State Party and appropriate steps have not been taken by the relevant
State Party or States Parties, a State Party may request the Council to take
appropriate measures.
2.    The principles contained in paragraph 1 shall not affect the rights and
obligations under any provision of the agreements referred to in
paragraph 1 (b), as well as the relevant free trade and customs union
agreements, in relations between States Parties which are parties to such
agreements.
3.    The acceptance by a contractor of subsidies other than those which may be
permitted under the agreements referred to in paragraph 1 (b) shall constitute a
violation of the fundamental terms of the contract forming a plan of work for
the carrying out of activities in the Area.
 4.   Any State Party which has reason to believe that there has been a breach of
 the requirements of paragraphs 1 (b) to (d) or 3 may initiate dispute settlement
procedures in conformity with paragraph 1 (f) or (g).
 5.   A State Party may at any time bring to the attention of the Council
 activities which in its view are inconsistent with the requirements of
 paragraph 1 (b) to (d).
 6.   The Authority shall develop rules, regulations and procedures which ensure
 the implementation of the provisions of this section, including relevant rules,
 regulations and procedures governing the approval of plans of work.
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7.   The provisions of article 151, paragraphs 1 to 7 and 9, article 162,
paragraph 2 (q) , article 165, paragraph 2 (n) , and Annex III, article 6,
paragraph 5, and article 7, of the Convention shall not apply.
                          SECTION 7.  ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
1.   The policy of the Authority of assisting developing countries which suffer
serious adverse effects on their export earnings or economies resulting from a
reduction in the price of an affected mineral or in the volume of exports of
that mineral, to the extent that such reduction is caused by activities in the
Area, shall be based on the following principles:
      (a) The Authority shall establish an economic assistance fund from a
portion of the funds of the Authority which exceeds those necessary to cover the
administrative expenses of the Authority. The amount set aside for this purpose
shall be determined by the Council from time to time, upon the recommendation of
the Finance Committee. Only funds from payments received from contractors,
including the Enterprise, and voluntary contributions shall be used for the
establishment of the economic assistance fund;
      (b) Developing land-based producer States whose economies have been
determined to be seriously affected by the production of minerals from the deep
seabed shall be assisted from the economic assistance fund of the Authority;
      (c) The Authority shall provide assistance from the fund to affected
developing land-based producer States, where appropriate, in cooperation with
existing global or regional development institutions which have the
infrastructure and expertise to carry out such assistance programmes;
      (d) The extent and period of such assistance shall be determined on a
case-by-case basis. In doing so, due consideration shall be given to the nature
and magnitude of the problems encountered by affected developing land-based
producer States.
2.   Article 151, paragraph 10, of the Convention shall be implemented by means
of measures of economic assistance referred to in paragraph 1. Article 160,
paragraph 2 (1), article 162, paragraph 2 (n), article 164, paragraph 2 (d),
article 171, subparagraph (f) , and article 173, paragraph 2 (c) , of the
Convention shall be interpreted accordingly.
                     SECTION 8.   FINANCIAL TERMS OF CONTRACTS
1.   The following principles shall provide the basis for establishing rules,
regulations and procedures for financial terms of contracts:
      (a) The system of payments to the Authority shall be fair both to the
contractor and to the Authority and shall provide adequate means of determining
compliance by the contractor with such system;
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      (b) The rates of payments under the system shall be within the range of
those prevailing in respect of land-based mining of the same or similar minerals
in order to avoid giving deep seabed miners an artificial competitive advantage
or imposing on them a competitive disadvantage;
      (c) The system should not be complicated and should not impose major
administrative costs on the Authority or on a contractor. Consideration should
be given to the adoption of a royalty system or a combination of a royalty and
profit-sharing system. If alternative systems are decided upon, the contractor
has the right to choose the system applicable to its contract. Any subsequent
change in choice between alternative systems, however, shall be made by
agreement between the Authority and the contractor;
      (d) An annual fixed fee shall be payable from the date of commencement of
commercial production. This fee may be credited against other payments due
under the system adopted in accordance with subparagraph (c) . The amount of the
fee shall be established by the Council;
      (e) The system of payments may be revised periodically in the light of
changing circumstances. Any changes shall be applied in a non-discriminatory
manner. Such changes may apply to existing contracts only at the election of
the contractor. Any subsequent change in choice between alternative systems
shall be made by agreement between the Authority and the contractor;
      (f) Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the rules and
regulations based on these principles shall be subject to the dispute settlement
procedures set out in the Convention.
2.   The provisions of Annex III, article 13, paragraphs 3 to 10, of the
Convention shall not apply.
3.   With regard to the implementation of Annex III, article 13, paragraph 2, of
the Convention, the fee for processing applications for approval of a plan of
work limited to one phase, either the exploration phase or the exploitation
phase, shall be US$ 250,000.
                        SECTION 9.  THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
1.   There is hereby established a Finance Committee. The Committee shall be
composed of 15 members with appropriate qualifications relevant to financial
matters. States Parties shall nominate candidates of the highest standards of
competence and integrity.
2.   No two members of the Finance Committee shall be nationals of the same
State Party.
3.   Members of the Finance Committee shall be elected by the Assembly and due
account shall be taken of the need for equitable geographical distribution and
the representation of special interests. Each group of States referred to in
section 3, paragraph 15 (a), (b), (c) and (d), of this Annex shall be
represented on the Committee by at least one member. Until the Authority has
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sufficient funds other than assessed contributions to meet its administrative
expenses, the membership of the Committee shall include representatives of the
five largest financial contributors to the administrative budget of the
Authority. Thereafter, the election of one member from each group shall be on
the basis of nomination by the members of the respective group, without
prejudice to the possibility of further members being elected from each group.
4.   Members of the Finance Committee shall hold office for a term of five
years. They shall be eligible for re-election for a further term.
5.   In the event of the death, incapacity or resignation of a member of the
Finance Committee prior to the expiration of the term of office, the Assembly
shall elect for the remainder of the term a member from the same geographical
region or group of States.
6.   Members of the Finance Committee shall have no financial interest in any
activity relating to matters upon which the Committee has the responsibility to
make recommendations. They shall not disclose, even after the termination of
their functions, any confidential information coming to their knowledge by
reason of their duties for the Authority.
7.   Decisions by the Assembly and the Council on the following issues shall
take into account recommendations of the Finance Committee :
      (a) Draft financial rules, regulations and procedures of the organs of the
Authority and the financial management and internal financial administration of
the Authority;
      (b) Assessment of contributions of members to the administrative budget of
the Authority in accordance with article 160, paragraph 2 (e), of the
Convention;
      (c) All relevant financial matters, including the proposed annual budget
prepared by the Secretary-General of the Authority in accordance with
article 172 of the Convention and the financial aspects of the implementation of
the programmes of work of the Secretariat;
      (d) The administrative budget ;
      (e) Financial obligations of States Parties arising from the
implementation of this Agreement and Part XI as well as the administrative and
budgetary implications of proposals and recommendations involving expenditure
from the funds of the Authority;
      (f) Rules, regulations and procedures on the equitable sharing of
financial and other economic benefits derived from activities in the Area and
the decisions to be made thereon.
8.   Decisions in the Finance Committee on questions of procedure shall be taken
by a majority of members present and voting. Decisions on questions of
substance shall be taken by consensus.
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9.   The requirement of article 162, paragraph 2 (y), of the Convention to
establish a subsidiary organ to deal with financial matters shall be deemed to
have been fulfilled by the establishment of the Finance Committee in accordance
with this section.
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                                    ANNEX II
              Informal Understanding to be read by the President of
              the General Assembly at the time of the adoption of
                                 the resolution
     Once there is a widespread participation in the International Seabed
Authority and the number of members of each regional group participating in the
Authority is substantially similar to its membership in the United Nations, it
is understood that each regional group would be represented in the Council of
the Authority as a whole by at least three members.
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