Stockholm Arbitration Body Reports Surge and Shifts in Investor-State Disputes
The SCC Arbitration Institute has released new data highlighting its longstanding and evolving role in resolving investor-state disputes, underscoring broader changes in the global investment arbitration landscape.
According to the report, the SCC has administered 129 investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases since 1993, reflecting its steady position as a key venue for resolving conflicts between foreign investors and sovereign states. The institute also noted that 96 active international investment agreements currently designate the SCC or Stockholm as a forum for arbitration.
The findings come amid continued legal and political shifts in Europe following the landmark Achmea decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which curtailed the use of arbitration in disputes between EU member states. The SCC report suggests that while the ruling has reshaped intra-EU arbitration, the institution remains active across a diverse set of jurisdictions.
Notably, the analysis found that 67% of bilateral investment treaties involving the SCC are rooted in civil law systems, pointing to the institute’s strong engagement in regions where such legal traditions dominate.
Despite regulatory headwinds, the SCC appears poised to maintain its relevance, serving as a bridge between differing legal frameworks and continuing to attract cases from across the globe