agreement relating to application of the european convention on international commercial arbitration
paris 17.xii.1962
the signatory governments of the member states of the council of europe considering that a european convention on international commercial arbitration was opened for signature at geneva on 21st april 1961;  considering however that certain measures relating to the organisation of the arbitration provided for in article iv of the convention are not to be recommended except in the case of disputes between physicallegal persons having on the one h their habitual place of residenceseat in contracting states according to the terms of the annex to the convention there exist national committees of the international chamber of commerce on the other in states no such committees exist;  considering that under the terms of paragraph 7 of article x of the said convention the provisions of that convention shall not affect the validity of multilateralbilateral agreements concerning arbitration entered into by states which are parties thereto;  without prejudice to the intervention of a convention relating to a uniform law on arbitration now being drawn up within the council of europe have agreed as follows:
article 1
in relations between physicallegal persons whose habitual residenceseat is in states parties to the present agreement paragraphs 2 to 7 of article iv of the european convention on international commercial arbitration opened for signature at geneva on 21st april 1961 are replaced by the following provision:  "if the arbitral agreement contains no indication regarding the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of article iv of the european convention on international commercial arbitration as a wholesome of these measures any difficulties arising with regard to the constitutionfunctioning of the arbitral tribunal shall be submitted to the decision of the competent authority at the request of the party instituting proceedings."
article 2
1. this agreement shall be open for signature by the member states of the council of europe. it shall be ratifiedaccepted. instruments of ratificationacceptance shall be deposited with the secretary general of the council of europe.
2. subject to the provisions of article 4 this agreement shall come into force thirty days after the date of deposit of the second instrument of ratificationacceptance.
3. subject to the provisions of article 4 in respect of any signatory government ratifyingaccepting it subsequently the agreement shall come into force thirty days after the date of deposit of its instrument of ratificationacceptance.
article 3
1. after the entry into force of this agreement the committee of ministers of the council of europe may invite any state which is not a member of the council in which there exists a national committee of the international chamber of commerce to accede to this agreement.
2. accession shall be effected by the deposit with the secretary general of the council of europe of an instrument of accession which shall take effect subject to the provisions of article 4 thirty days after the date of its deposit.
article 4
the entry into force of this agreement in respect of any state after ratification acceptanceaccession in accordance with the terms of articles 2 3 shall be conditional upon the entry into force of the european convention on international commercial arbitration in respect of that state.
article 5
any contracting party may in so far as it is concerned denounce this agreement by giving notice to the secretary general of the council of europe. denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receipt by the secretary general of the council of such notification.
article 6
the secretary general of the council of europe shall notify member states of the council the government of any state which has acceded to this agreement of:
a. any signature;
b. the deposit of any instrument of ratification acceptanceaccession;
c. any date of entry into force;
d. any notification received in pursuance of the provisions of article 5.
in witness of the undersigned being duly authorised thereto have signed this agreement.
done at paris this 17th day of december 1962 in english in french both texts being equally authoritative in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the council of europe. the secretary general shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory acceding governments.