Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
PartiesParties with a link have a reservation.
| Party | Signature | RatificationS=Signature without reservation or requirement of ratification R=Ratification, Acceptance, Approval or Notification A=Accession Su=Succession NK=Not Known | Entry into force | Renunciation | Termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 18-03-1992 | 05-01-1994 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Austria | 18-03-1992 | 25-07-1996 (R) | 23-10-1996 | ||
| Azerbaijan | 03-08-2000 (A) | 01-11-2000 | |||
| Bangladesh | 20-06-2025 (A) | 18-09-2025 | |||
| Belarus | 29-05-2003 (A) | 27-08-2003 | |||
| Belgium | 18-03-1992 | 08-11-2000 (R) | 06-02-2001 | ||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 03-12-2009 (A) | 03-03-2010 | |||
| Botswana | 20-01-2026 (A) | 20-04-2026 | |||
| Bulgaria | 18-03-1992 | 28-10-2003 (R) | 27-01-2004 | ||
| Cameroon | 01-11-2022 (A) | 30-01-2023 | |||
| Chad | 22-02-2018 (A) | 23-05-2018 | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | 10-07-2024 (A) | 08-10-2024 | |||
| Croatia | 08-07-1996 (A) | 06-10-1996 | |||
| Czech Republic | 12-06-2000 (A) | 10-09-2000 | |||
| Denmark | 18-03-1992 | 28-05-1997 (R) | 26-08-1997 | ||
| Estonia | 18-03-1992 | 16-06-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| EU (European Union) | 18-03-1992 | 14-09-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Finland | 18-03-1992 | 21-02-1996 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| France | 18-03-1992 | 30-06-1998 (R) | 28-09-1998 | ||
| Gambia, The | 17-07-2023 (A) | 15-10-2023 | |||
| Germany | 18-03-1992 | 30-01-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Ghana | 22-06-2020 (A) | 20-09-2020 | |||
| Greece | 18-03-1992 | 06-09-1996 (R) | 05-12-1996 | ||
| Guinea-Bissau | 14-06-2021 (A) | 12-09-2021 | |||
| Hungary | 18-03-1992 | 02-09-1994 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Iraq | 24-03-2023 (A) | 22-06-2023 | |||
| Italy | 18-03-1992 | 23-05-1996 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Jordan | 06-02-2026 (A) | 07-05-2026 | |||
| Kazakhstan | 11-01-2001 (A) | 11-04-2001 | |||
| Latvia | 18-03-1992 | 10-12-1996 (R) | 10-03-1997 | ||
| Liechtenstein | 19-11-1997 (A) | 17-02-1998 | |||
| Lithuania | 18-03-1992 | 28-04-2000 (R) | 27-07-2000 | ||
| Luxembourg | 20-05-1992 | 07-06-1994 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Malawi | 26-08-2026 (A) | 24-11-2026 | |||
| Moldova | 04-01-1994 (A) | 06-10-1996 | |||
| Montenegro | 23-06-2014 (A) | 21-09-2014 | |||
| Namibia | 08-06-2023 (A) | 06-09-2023 | |||
| Netherlands, the Kingdom of the | 18-03-1992 | 14-03-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Nigeria | 22-03-2023 (A) | 20-06-2023 | |||
| North Macedonia | 28-07-2015 (A) | 26-10-2015 | |||
| Norway | 18-09-1992 | 01-04-1993 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Panama | 06-07-2023 (A) | 04-10-2023 | |||
| Poland | 18-03-1992 | 15-03-2000 (R) | 13-06-2000 | ||
| Portugal | 09-06-1992 | 09-12-1994 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Romania | 18-03-1992 | 31-05-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Russian Federation | 18-03-1992 | 02-11-1993 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Senegal | 31-08-2018 (A) | 29-11-2018 | |||
| Serbia | 27-08-2010 (A) | 25-11-2010 | |||
| Sierra Leone | 26-09-2025 (A) | 25-12-2025 | |||
| Slovakia | 07-07-1999 (A) | 05-10-1999 | |||
| Slovenia | 13-04-1999 (A) | 12-07-1999 | |||
| Spain | 18-03-1992 | 16-02-2000 (R) | 16-05-2000 | ||
| Sweden | 18-03-1992 | 05-08-1993 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Switzerland | 18-03-1992 | 23-05-1995 (R) | 06-10-1996 | ||
| Togo | 28-09-2021 (A) | 27-12-2021 | |||
| Turkmenistan | 29-08-2012 (A) | 27-11-2012 | |||
| Ukraine | 08-10-1999 (A) | 06-01-2000 | |||
| United Kingdom | 18-03-1992 | ||||
| Uzbekistan | 04-09-2007 (A) | 03-12-2007 | |||
| Zambia | 04-09-2024 (A) | 03-12-2024 | |||
| Zimbabwe | 19-07-2024 (A) | 17-10-2024 |
Extensions
Portugal
| Extended to | Entry into force | Termination |
|---|---|---|
| Macao (<20-12-1999) | 28-06-1999 | 20-12-1999 |
Parties with reservations, declarations and objections
| Party | Reservations / Declarations | Objections |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Botswana | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Liechtenstein | Yes | No |
| Malawi | Yes | No |
| Serbia | Yes | No |
Austria
25-07-1996
The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with article 22 paragraph 2 of the Convention, that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsary in relation to any Party accepting an obligation concerning one or both these means of dispute settlement.
Botswana
20-01-2026
… for purposes of Article 22(2) of the Convention, the Republic of Botswana declares that for any dispute not resolved in accordance with Article 22(1), it accepts as compulsory means of dispute settlement in relation to a Party accepting the same obligation, the submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice; and Arbitration in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex IV to the Convention.
Denmark
28-05-1997
With reservation of application to the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Liechtenstein
19-11-1997
Liechtenstein declares in accordance with article 22 paragraph 2 of the Convention, that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsary in relation to any Party accepting an obligation concerning one or both these means of dispute settlement.
Malawi
26-08-2026
1. The Republic of Malawi understands and declares that nothing in the Convention,
and in particular no obligation to cooperate, notify, consult, share data, or jointly
manage transboundary watercourses, shall be construed as affecting, modifying, prejudicing,
or creating any right in derogation of the territorial sovereignty or sovereign rights
of Malawi over its territory, including the waters, bed, and subsoil of Lake Malawi
insofar as they fall within Malawian territory as determined by applicable rules of
international boundary law.
2. The Republic of Malawi further declares that its accession to, and cooperation
under, the Convention shall not in any manner be construed as an admission, acknowledgement,
or recognition of the territorial or boundary claims of any other State with respect
to Lake Malawi or any other shared water body, and shall not prejudice or affect the
conduct or outcome of any bilateral or multilateral process for the resolution of
boundary questions concerning such water bodies.
3. The Republic of Malawi declares that the establishment of any joint body, commission,
or mechanism pursuant to the Convention in relation to Lake Malawi or any watercourse
adjacent to a disputed boundary shall be without prejudice to Malawi’s territorial
and boundary positions, and the terms of reference of any such body shall not be construed
as resolving or foreclosing any question of territorial sovereignty or boundary delimitation.
4. This Declaration is made pursuant to Article 3 of the Convention, which affirms
that the Convention does not affect existing treaties or agreements. and is consistent
with the general principle of treaty interpretation affirmed in Article 31(3)(c) of
the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), which requires that account be
taken of all relevant rules of international law applicable in the relations between
the Parties, including the rules governing territorial sovereignty and boundary delimitation.
Serbia
27-08-2010
In accordance with Article 22 paragraph 2 of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, the Republic of Serbia declares that, for a dispute not resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Article 22, it accepts both means of dispute settlement in the manner and under the conditions referred to in Article 22 paragraphs 2 and 3.