Moldauhafen (Vltava port) is a lot in the port of Hamburg, Germany, which has been leased in 1929, pursuant to the Treaty of Versailles, to Czechoslovakia. In 1993, the Czech Republic succeeded to the rights of Czechoslovakia.
The lot of about 30,000 square metres (322,917 sq ft) is not an exclave, since it is not sovereign Czech territory. Nevertheless, it enjoys extraterritoriality and is therefore exempt from German legislation, and subject to Czech law. Previously, a similar arrangement existed for the port of Stettin, now Szczecin, Poland.
History
The 1919 Treaty of Versailles stated in articles 363 and 364[1]:
- Article 363
In the ports of Hamburg and Stettin Germany shall lease to the Czecho-Slovak State, for a period of 99 years, areas which shall be placed under the general regime of free zones and shall be used for the direct transit of goods coming from or going to that State.
- Article 364
The delimitation of these areas, and their equipment, their exploitation, and in general all conditions for their utilisation, including the amount of the rental, shall be decided by a Commission consisting of one delegate of Germany, one delegate of the Czecho-Slovak State and one delegate of Great Britain. These conditions shall be susceptible of revision every ten years in the same manner. Germany declares in advance that she will adhere to the decisions so taken.
The deal thus allowed the landlocked country a free port where goods transported over the Vltava and the Elbe could be transferred to seagoing ships without the interference of a third state.
Even though Germany had already declared in advance that it would follow the decisions of the Commission, the lease was formalised in an agreement between Germany and Czechoslovakia, signed in Prague on 16 February 1929. [2]
The lot was leased for 99 years. Until 2002, the Moldauhafen was used by the company ČSPL, which went bankrupt. The lease is set to expire in 2028.
References
External links
Coordinates: 53°31′N 10°00′E / 53.517, 10
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