The agreement will make it possible to conduct arbitration, conciliation, and mediation proceedings in Poland as well as to use other alternative dispute resolution methods.

As the PCA does not maintain a permanent office in the region, the conclusion of this agreement sends a positive signal to Polish entrepreneurs. Any cross-border disputes may now be resolved in Poland through international arbitration procedures.

“Poland seeks to strengthen its position as a venue for resolving international disputes of significant public interest, for both Poland and countries in the region. We hope that Warsaw will become a regional centre for international arbitration, thus increasing the attractiveness of the Polish legal services market,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

To date, the PCA has signed host-country agreements enabling it to provide arbitration services with a number of states, including Brazil, Bahrain, Spain, Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Djibouti, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Mauritius, Paraguay, Portugal, South Africa, Singapore, Vietnam, and Uruguay. Among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Poland is only the second such state, alongside Slovakia. 

The organisation’s Secretary-General is Dr. Hab. Marcin Czepelak of Poland, who has held the position since 2022. This is the first time in the PCA’s history that the Secretary-General does not come from the Netherlands. As Professor Czepelak’s current term is coming to an end, Poland has once again nominated him as candidate for the 2027–2032 term.

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Established in 1899 under the First Hague Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an intergovernmental organisation based in The Hague. The PCA provides administrative and organisational support to states, international organisations, and private parties involved in arbitration, conciliation, and other peaceful dispute-resolution proceedings. It also offers institutional services, including assistance in organising proceedings and appointing arbitrators. The PCA currently has 129 Contracting Parties.