Moldova Parliament approves first reading of new arbitration law

The Moldovan Parliament voted in the first reading on a draft law to overhaul the country's arbitration framework. Drafted by the Ministry of Justice with input from a working group of arbitrators, lawyers and business representatives, the bill seeks to modernise national legislation and bring it into line with the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.

The legislation will merge rules for domestic and international commercial arbitration into a single act, replace the existing legal regime, and introduce measures such as full transposition of the UNCITRAL provisions, greater procedural autonomy, a modern scheme for provisional measures and simplified enforcement of arbitral awards. The reform is presented as a step toward a faster, more predictable dispute‑resolution system, supporting Moldova’s EU‑accession agenda outlined in the 2025‑2029 National Programme. After a second reading, the law is slated to come into force on 1 January 2027.