News
2000

The New York Convention increases its spread

Malta has become the latest signatory to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, bringing the number of contracting states to 122

The United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards has acquired a new adherent. On 20 September 2000, Malta acceded to the Convention, subject to two reserves. The first, as permitted by Article 1(3) of the Convention, concerns reciprocity: like many other states, Malta will apply the Convention to the recognition and enforcement of awards made only in the territo ry of another contracting state. The second concerns the arbitration agreements coming within the scope of the Convention: in respect of Malta, these will be restricted to those made after its accession.

The so-called New York Convention may be considered as the most important multilateral treaty on international arbitration. It requires courts in contracting states to recognize arbitration agreements in writing and to refuse to allow a dispute to be litigated before them when it is subject to an arbitration agreement. It also requires courts to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards.

Instrumental in its creation, the ICC International Court of Arbitration was at the forefront of the movement that led to the adoption of the Convention in New York on 10 June 1958.

For a full list of contracting states, please see the UNCITRAL Web site.