The 1994 Agreement on the Implementation of Part XI of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: breakthrough to universality?

In July 1994 an Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted by the UN General Assembly. This Agreement, the outcome of Informal Consultations sponsored by the UN Secretary-General, in effect substantially amends the regime of seabed mining laid down in Part XI of the UN Convention, thus removing the obstacle to accession to the Convention by the principal industrialized powers. The UN Convention entered into force on 16 November 1994. This article offers an analysis of the main provisions of the new Agreement and assesses its Impact on the prospects for universal participation in the UN Convention.