Denmark and Poland Sign New Executive Order on Common Border South of Bornholm

Denmark and Poland have signed a new executive order, regarding the waters south of Bornholm, which is a Danish island between Denmark and Poland, Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

The recent order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Jeppe Kofod establishes Denmark’s exclusive economic zone “that is, Denmark’s borders at sea within 200 nautical miles,” 

Through the agreement, Denmark is permitted to utilize all kinds of resources and the establishment of artificial islands, among other things.

“I am pleased today to be able to implement the border agreement with Poland in a new executive order. And then it is, of course, extra gratifying for me that the executive order, as something new, defines the entire economic zone around Bornholm,” Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod pointed out in this regard.

In 2018, the heads of diplomacy of Poland and Denmark Jacek Czaputowicz together with Anders Samuelsen agreed on the demarcation of maritime areas in the Baltic Sea. The decision was revealed by Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement regarding the demarcation clarified that the continental shelves and the exclusive economic zones of Poland and Denmark, in part of the Baltic Sea south of Bornholm would be divided.

“Today’s ceremony (…) shows that with bilateral engagement, mutual trust and respect it is possible to solve even long-lasting disputes,” emphasized Czaputowicz, quoted in the communiqué of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The area divided is approximately 3.6 thousand square km, where the economic zones of Denmark and Poland were not delimited for several dozen years.

“This is excellent news, in fact showing our commitment to solving difficult matters through negotiation,” added his Danish counterpart, Samuelsen.

The course of the Poland-Denmark border in the Baltic Sea was completed in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( December 10, 1982) as well as relevant international jurisprudence.