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.
In 2025, the numbers of arbitration proceedings initiated have increased.
We observed an increase of our international cases (9% between International Parties with no Belgian Parties involved against 0% in 2024, 38% of the cases involve at least one International Party). Nevertheless, our domestic cases are still a steady trend with 53 % of cases involving exclusively Belgian Parties. 47% of the cases were introduced in English, 38% in Dutch and 15% in French, highlighting Belgium’s linguistic diversity but also the internationalization of our cases.
The financial scope of disputes also continue to evolve. Expedited proceedings (< € 100.000,00) represent 15% of the cases, while 46% of our cases have an amount in dispute over 1 million euros (compared to 37% in 2024) showcasing both the importance of efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanisms for smaller disputes as well as the success of CEPANI for cases with high financial stake.
Brussels has reinforced its role as a key hub for arbitration, with 76% of cases selecting Brussels as the seat of arbitration. 18% of cases were seated in other Belgian cities. 6% of the introduced cases in 2025 have chosen an international city as seat (namely Luxembourg city).
As an ADR institution administering dispute resolution proceedings, diversity, inclusion, and equality form an integral part of CEPANI’s mission and values. In 2025, women represented 30% of the arbitrators appointed compared to 23% in 2024. When considering appointments made exclusively by the Appointments Committee (excluding confirmations of party-appointed arbitrators), 50% of these appointments were women, as in 2024. Furthermore, 18% of arbitrators appointed were under the age of 40, of whom 83% were appointed by CEPANI’s Appointments Committee. These figures reflect CEPANI’s sustained efforts to promote diversity and broaden representation within the arbitral community.
Finally, CEPANI remains firmly committed to the efficient administration of proceedings. The 2025 statistical indicators confirm CEPANI’s ability to deliver effective dispute resolution services across an increasingly diverse and complex caseload.