This yearly report provides a statistical overview of CEPANI arbitration proceedings in 2024 and its evolution in comparison with past years.
In this report, you will find information on proceedings administered by CEPANI such as the origin of the Parties, the language and the seat of the arbitration, the constitution of Arbitral Tribunals, statistics on the appointed Arbitrators, the average duration of CEPANI arbitration procedures and more.
As in 2023, the impact of the economic crisis has led to fewer arbitration proceedings initiated in 2024 than in previous years. This decrease was also echoed by other arbitral institutions.
While the economic climate continues to shape the arbitration landscape, we observed a 15% increase in cases involving exclusively Belgian Parties compared to 2023, underscoring the importance of our services at the domestic level. At the same time, internationalisation remains a defining feature, with 42% of cases involving at least one international Party. Half of our Arbitration cases have been introduced in English, 25 % in Dutch, and 25% in French, highlighting Belgium’s linguistic diversity.
The financial scope of disputes also continues to evolve. Although the number of cases with claims over one million euros slightly decreased to 38% in 2024, expedited proceedings (< €100,000) have increased by 10% in comparison with 2023, showcasing the importance of efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanisms for smaller disputes.
Brussels has reinforced its role as a key hub for arbitration, with 79% of cases selecting Brussels as the seat of arbitration. The remaining 21% of cases were seated in other Belgian cities, reflecting a steady domestic trend.
As an ADR institution administrating judicial processes to resolve disputes, the founding principle of diversity and inclusion of equality is inherent to CEPANI’s core. In 2024, women represented 23% of the arbitrators appointed (71% of which were appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee). When taking into consideration the appointments made by the Appointments Committee itself (thus excluding all confirmations of Party appointed Arbitrators), 50% of these appointments were women. 19% of the arbitrators appointed were under the age of 40 (83% of them were appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee). These figures reflect the growing commitment of CEPANI for a more inclusive and representative environment.
Finally, CEPANI remains dedicated to ensuring that every case is handled with the utmost efficiency. As we move forward, the 2024 statistics highlight CEPANI’s ability to provide effective solutions for an increasingly diverse range of disputes.