Položaj Drave u kontekstu međunarodnog prava
International Legal Position of the Drava River

Summary/Abstract: The Drava is a 749 km long Central European river whose source is located in northeastern Italy (South Tyrol) and flows through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. In the section between Međimurje County (also known as Muraköz megye in Hungarian) and »Darva Corner« (Baranja in Croatia), the Drava forms a natural border between Croatia and Hungary. It flows into the Danube near Almás (Aljmaš) which is adjacent to Osijek, than continues its passage towards the Black Sea. The Drava runs through five countries, interlacing the Alps with the Pannonian region. It is characterized by biodiversity, retaining some special species of flora and fauna. The river is utilized by the concerned countries for economic purposes, which has resulted in 22 hydroelectric power stations along the riverbank. Throughout history, the river has often changed its bed, however the Drava has been a Hungarian-Croatian border for thousands of years. Regarding the constant importance of freshwater - which will be of even greater precedence in the future - exploitation of transboundary rivers, their possible pollution and other issues could only be resolved by mutual agreement of both parties. Therefore, the correspondence along with the delimitation of the border, cross-border cooperation, are all subjects of international law, therefore international courts are called upon to settle disputes between countries. As the number of river litigation between neighboring countries is expected to increase in international courts, this study presents international legal regulations, as well as some of the most well-known cases before international courts, including the expected tendencies in river-related legal issues.

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