Lord Empey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-04-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Falkland Islands Government regarding the future of its territorial waters.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

As a self-governing Overseas Territory of the UK, it is up to the Falkland Islanders to determine their own future. The UK is in no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime areas, or about the principle and the right of the Falkland Islanders to self determination. We have discussed with the Falkland Islands government the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)’s remit, and the fact that the UN itself has noted that the CLCS cannot consider claims relating to disputed areas. In this case that would include the Falkland Islands. Furthermore, the CLCS has no jurisdiction over the sovereignty of any land territory, including the Falkland Islands.