June 2, 2026, Chisinau – The Republic of Moldova will have a modern and unified regulatory framework for arbitration.National legislation will be aligned with international standards, including the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.The draft law, developed by the Ministry of Justice, was adopted in the first reading by Parliament, with the vote of 57 deputies.
The new legislative framework will contribute to increasing the attractiveness of arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution method, especially for the business environment.A clear, modern and efficient arbitration framework will reduce the pressure on the courts, facilitate faster dispute resolution and strengthen investors' confidence in the legal system of the Republic of Moldova.
The project contains several important new elements:
The draft expands the categories of disputes that can be resolved through arbitration.At the same time, the cases in which arbitration cannot be used will be limited and expressly provided for in the law.This solution will provide more clarity and predictability to the parties, who will know exactly when they can opt for arbitration and when the dispute must be resolved by the court.
The draft introduces modern solutions for the conduct of the arbitration procedure, including the possibility of organizing hearings by videoconference, telephone or other appropriate means of communication.These provisions reflect the current realities of trade and contribute to reducing costs, saving time and increasing the flexibility of the procedure.
Another important novelty concerns the regime for the enforcement of arbitral awards issued in domestic arbitration.Thus, if the arbitral award is not challenged within the time limit provided by law, it will become an enforceable document, without the need for a prior procedure for the issuance of the enforceable title by the court.This solution strengthens the legal force of the arbitral award and simplifies the realization of the rights recognized through arbitration.
Currently, arbitration is regulated by two distinct pieces of legislation: Law No. 23 on Arbitration and Law No. 24 on International Commercial Arbitration.The existence of these two laws, which cover the same regulatory area, has over time generated certain practical difficulties, including inconsistent terminology, divergent regulations and fragmented practice.
Therefore, the draft law establishes a single legislative act applicable to both domestic and international commercial arbitration.This approach will contribute to increasing the clarity, predictability and coherence of the applicable legal framework.