The Permanent Court of Arbitration signs an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a headquarters in Spain

The Diplomat Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares received the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Marcin Czepelak, in Madrid on Monday, where they signed an agreement for the establishment of an office of this organization in Spain. The PCA was established in 1899 during the First Hague Peace Conference due to the need for a permanent forum to resolve international disputes between states without resorting to war. One of its first cases was the dispute between the United States and Mexico over the Pious Fund of the Californias in 1902. Its headquarters are located in The Hague. During the meeting, Albares and Czepelak discussed the importance of this body in the peaceful resolution of international disputes, Spain's firm commitment to an international order based on international law, and the importance of Spanish in the legal field, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The opening of a Permanent Court of Arbitration office in Spain, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, constitutes a significant milestone for the country's international standing as a forum for dispute resolution. "This decision recognizes the strength of the Spanish legal system, the excellence of its professionals, and Spain's growing capacity to host international arbitration proceedings," the Ministry continued. Furthermore, "it reinforces the country's role as a bridge between Europe, Latin America, and the Mediterranean, consolidating its position in the field of international justice and legal diplomacy," it added. "This agreement represents a major step toward making Spain a consolidated and leading forum for arbitration. Spain is, without a doubt, an ideal location for the Permanent Court of Arbitration to operate, given our strategic position, our legal excellence, and our institutional security," stated Minister Albares. "This agreement is especially important as it allows us to promote our language, Spanish, as a truly global language, including in the legal field," he added.

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