Belgium Adopts New Arbitration Law Based On UNCITRAL Model Law

On June 24, the Belgian legislature enacted a new Arbitration Law that replaces all previous provisions on arbitration in the sixth part of the Belgian Judicial Code. The Law essentially aims at increasing efficiency in arbitration and thereby the attractiveness of Belgium, and especially Brussels, as a place of arbitration. With the adoption of the new Arbitration Law, Belgium joins the more than 60 countries that have already enacted arbitration legislation based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. At the same time, however, some (possibly surprising) Belgian peculiarities have been retained.

The new Arbitration Law entered into force on September 1 and applies to arbitrations commenced on or after that date and to all court proceedings initiated in the framework of such arbitrations. Contrary to the UNCITRAL Model Law, the Belgian Arbitration Law applies both to "national" and "international" arbitrations.