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1. 57th session of the International Law Commission (2005) 

- Report of the Working Group on Shared Natural Resources (Groundwaters)  
 

2. 58th session of the International Law Commission (2006) 

- Report of the Working Group on Shared Natural Resources (Groundwaters)  
 

3. 59th session of the International Law Commission (2007) 

- Report of the Working Group on Shared Natural Resources 
 

1. Preliminary report laying out the background to the topic with a view to seeking guidance from the Commission on the course of the future study, and to provide a tentative timetable for the endeavour.  
- First report of the Special Rapporteur, Chusei Yamada (55th session of the ILC (2003))

2. Detailing the general framework for the topic and covering the scope of a possible convention, use of terms (definitions), principles governing uses of aquifer systems, the obligation not to cause harm, the general obligation to cooperate, regular exchange of data and information and different kinds of uses, together with several aquifer models and selected case studies.
- Second report of the Special Rapporteur, Chusei Yamada (56th session of the ILC (2004))

3. Containing a complete set of 25 draft articles of a draft convention on the law of transboundary aquifers, together with an addendum setting out provisions of legal instruments relevant to some of the draft articles proposed by the Special Rapporteur.
- Third report of the Special Rapporteur, Chusei Yamada (57th session of the ILC (2005))

4. Initial consideration of oil and natural gas, together with a discussion of the relationship between the work on groundwaters and that on oil and gas.
- Fourth report of the Special Rapporteur, Chusei Yamada (59th session of the ILC (2007))

5. Relationship between the work on transboundary aquifers and that on oil and natural gas, final form of the draft articles and revised draft articles for the second reading
- Fifth report of the Special Rapporteur, Chusei Yamada (60th session of the ILC (2008))

1. 58th session of the International Law Commission (2006) 

- Titles and texts of the draft articles adopted by the Drafting Committee on first reading
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee

2. 60th session of the International Law Commission (2008) 

- Title and texts of the preamble and draft articles 1 to 19 on the law of transboundary aquifers, adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading

1. 57th session of the International Law Commission (2005)
- Comments and observations received from Governments and relevant intergovernmental organizations

2. 60th session of the International Law Commission (2008)
- Comments and observations by Governments on the draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers

1. 60th session of the International Law Commission (2008)  
- Note on a preamble, by the Special Rapporteur

1. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-fourth session, 29 April to 7 June and 22 July to 16 August 2002   
- Decided to include the topic in its programme of work and appointed Mr. Chusei Yamada as Special Rapporteur.  
- Discussion in Plenary: 2727th mtg (30 May 2002)

2. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-fifth session, 5 May to 6 June and 7 July to 8 August 2003
- The Commission considered the first report of the Special Rapporteur. It also had an informal briefing by experts on groundwaters from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) on 30 July 2003. Their presence was arranged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- Discussion in plenary: 2778th and 2779th mtgs (22 and 23 July 2003)

3. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-sixth session, 3 May to 4 June and 5 July to 6 August 2004
-The Commission had before it the second report of the Special Rapporteur. At its 2797th meeting, the Commission established an open-ended Working Group on Transboundary Groundwaters, chaired by the Special Rapporteur. The Working Group
held three meetings. The Commission also had two informal briefings by experts on groundwaters from the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) on 24 and 25 May 2004. Their presence was arranged by UNESCO. At the request of the Special Rapporteur, the Commission, at its 2828th meeting, on 4 August 2004, agreed that a questionnaire, prepared by the Special Rapporteur, be circulated to Governments and relevant intergovernmental organizations asking for their views and information regarding groundwaters.
- Discussion in plenary: 2797th, 2798th and 2799th mtgs (12, 13 and 14 May 2004)

4. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-seventh session, 2 May to 3 June and 11 July to 5 August 2005
-At the present session, the Commission had before it the third report of the
Special Rapporteur. The Commission also had an informal technical presentation on the Guarani Aquifer System Project on 4 May 2005. The Commission established a Working Group, chaired by Mr. Enrique Candioti. The Working Group held 11 meetings. The Commission took note of the report of the Working Group. It expressed its appreciation that the Working Group had made substantial progress in its work by reviewing and revising eight draft articles. The Commission took note of the proposal of the Working Group that the Commission consider reconvening it at the 2006 session in order that it may complete its work
- Discussion in plenary: 2381st, 2832nd, 2833rd, 2834th, 2835th, 2836th (2 to 11 May 2005) and 2863rd (3 August 2005) mtgs

5. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-eighth session, 1 May to 9 June and 3 July to 11 August 2006
- The Commission decided to reconvene the Working Group on Shared Natural Resources, chaired by Mr. Enrique Candioti. The Working Group completed the review and revision of the draft articles submitted by the Special Rapporteur in his Third report. The Commission subsequently considered the report of the Working Group; and decided to refer the 19 draft articles to the Drafting Committee. The Commission considered the report of the Drafting Committee and adopted on first reading draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers consisting of 19 draft articles, with commentaries thereto.
- The Commission decided, in accordance with articles 16 to 21 of its Statute, to transmit the draft articles, through the Secretary-General, to Governments for comments and observations, with the request that such comments and observations be submitted to the Secretary-General by 1 January 2008.
- Discussion in plenary: 2868th (F) mtg, held on 2 May 2006, 2878th (F), 2879th (F) mtgs, held on 18 and 19 May 2006, 2885th (F) mtg, held on 9 June 2006, 2903rd (F), 2905th (F) and 2906th (F) mtgs, held on 2, 3 and 4 August 2006.

6. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fifty-ninth session, 7 May to 5 June and 9 July to 10 August 2007
- The Commission had before it the fourth report of the Special Rapporteur (A/CN.4/580), which was introduced by the Special Rapporteur at the 2921st meeting, on 18 May 2007. On the same day, the Special Rapporteur gave an informal briefing intended particularly for new members of the Commission on the draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers.
- At its 2920th meeting, on 16 May 2007, the Commission established a Working Group on Shared natural resources, under the chairmanship of Mr. Enrique Candioti, to assist the Special Rapporteur in considering a future work programme, taking into account the views expressed in the Commission. At its 2947th meeting, on 3 August 2007, the Commission took note of the report of the Working Group. The Secretariat was also requested to circulate to Governments the questionnaire seeking information on State practice regarding oil and gas.
- Discussion in plenary: 2920th (F) and 2921st (F) mtgs, held on 16 and 18 May 2007, 2930th (F), 2931st (F) mtgs, held on 4 and 5 June 2007, and 2947th (F) mtg, held on 3 August 2007.

Res. 57/21 of 19 November 2002 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
- Took note of the Commission's decision to include the topic in its programme of work.

Res. 58/77 of 9 December 2003 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
- Invited Governments to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding national legislation, bilateral and other agreements and arrangements with regard to the use and management of transboundary groundwaters, in particular those governing quality and quantity of such waters, relevant to the topic currently entitled “Shared natural resources”.

Res. 59/41 of 2 December 2004 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
- Drew the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topic, in particular on: their practice, bilateral or regional, relating to the allocation of groundwaters from transboundary aquifer systems and the management of non-renewable transboundary aquifer systems relating to the topic entitled “Shared natural resources”.

Res. 60/22 of 23 November 2005 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
- Invited Governments to provide information to the International Law Commission on the topic.

Res. 61/34 of 4 December 2006 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
- Expressed its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the
work accomplished at its fifty-eighth session, inter alia, for the completion of the first reading of the draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers under the topic “Shared natural resources”.

Res. 62/66 of 6 December 2007
- Invited Governments to provide information to the International Law Commission on the topic.
- Drew the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their comments and observations be 1 January 2008 on the draft articles and commentaries on the law of transboundary aquifers adopted on first reading by the Commission at its fifty-eighth session.

Work in progress