Scottish Arbitration Centre signs disputes agreement
The Scottish Arbitration Centre (SAC) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) have entered into a cooperation agreement. Through their agreement, the SAC and PCA will cooperate to promote the effective resolution of international disputes. Specifically, the SAC and the PCA will extend to one another support in the organisation of hearings or meetings through the provision of necessary facilities, services, and related personnel.
Headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, the PCA facilitates arbitration, conciliation, fact finding, and other dispute resolution proceedings among various combinations of states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations and private parties. It currently has 122 contracting parties, and its International Bureau is administering eight interstate disputes, 100 investor-state arbitrations, and 86 cases arising under contracts involving a state or other public entity.
The agreement was signed by Lord Glennie, chairman of the board of SAC and Marcin Czepelak, secretary-general of the PCA. Lord Glennie said: “The Scottish Arbitration Centre is honoured to have agreed closer ties with the PCA and to offer PCA users facilities here in Scotland. The PCA is the first permanent intergovernmental organisation to provide a forum for the resolution of international disputes and administers hundreds of international arbitration cases. The Centre is a much younger and smaller institution, but we remain committed to promoting arbitration and Scotland as an arbitral seat and venue, as well as offering hearing facilities. Plus, we cannot forget the Scottish influence on the home of the PCA, the Peace Palace, which was funded by Dunfermline-born, Andrew Carnegie. That historic Scottish link with the PCA makes this agreement all the more special.”
Marcin Czepelak added: “The PCA is delighted to conclude this cooperation agreement with the SAC. As the driving force behind the organisation of ICCA 2022, SAC drew the attention of the arbitration community to Edinburgh and its vibrant offerings as a place and venue of arbitration. We look forward to collaborating with SAC and to offering its facilities in Edinburgh to PCA users.”