Minquiers and Ecrehos case

France v United Kingdom [1953] ICJ 3 (also called the Minquiers and Ecrehos Case) was an International Court of Justice case concerning sovereignty over seas.

Facts
The United Kingdom and France requested the ICJ to determine the country that held sovereignty over the islets and rocks in the Minquiers and Ecrehos groups. France claimed sovereignty because it fished in the waters and it had historic sovereignty over the area from the 11th century's Duchy of Normandy. The United Kingdom claimed that Jersey had historically exercised legal and administrative jurisdiction over them.

Judgment
Initially requested on 5 December 1951, the ICJ decided on 17 November 1953 that sovereignty over the islands belonged to the United Kingdom.