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Commercial Arbitration and
Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods

International Centre for the
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)



Schedule B: Conciliation (Additional Facility) Rules

Chapter I: Introduction

    Art. 1 Scope of Application

Chapter II: Institutions of Proceedings

    Art. 2 The Notice
    Art. 3 Contents of the Notice
    Art. 4 Registration of the Notice
    Art. 5 Certificate of Registration

Chapter III: The Commission

    Art. 6 General Provisions
    Art. 7 Delegation in Case of Investment or Contract Financed by World Bank Group
    Art. 8 Qualifications of Conciliators
    Art. 9 Method of Constituting the Commission in the Absence of Previous Agreement between the Parties
    Art. 10 Appointment of Conciliators to Commission Constituted in Accordance with Article 6(3) of these Rules
    Art. 11 Appointment of Conciliators and Designation of President of the Commission by the Chairman
    Art. 12 Acceptance of Appointments
    Art. 13 Replacement of Conciliators prior to Constitution of the Commission
    Art. 14 Constitution of the Commission
    Art. 15 Replacement of Conciliators after Constitution of the Commission
    Art. 16 Disqualification of Conciliators
    Art. 17 Procedure during a Vacancy on the Commission
    Art. 18 Filling Vacancies on the Commission
    Art. 19 Resumption of Proceeding after Filling a Vacancy

Chapter IV: Place of Proceedings

    Art. 20 Determination of Place of Conciliation Proceeding

Chapter V: Working of the Commission

    Art. 21 Session of the Commission
    Art. 22 Sittings of the Commission
    Art. 23 Deliberations of the Commission
    Art. 24 Decisions of the Commission
    Art. 25 Incapacity of the President
    Art. 26 Representation of the Parties

Chapter VI: General Procedural Provisions

    Art. 27 Procedural Orders
    Art. 28 Preliminary Procedural Consultation
    Art. 29 Procedural Languages
    Art. 30 Written Statements
    Art. 31 Supporting Documentation
    Art. 32 Time Limits

Chapter VII: Conciliation Procedures

    Art. 33 Functions of the Commission
    Art. 34 Cooperation of the Parties
    Art. 35 Transmission of the Notice
    Art. 36 Filing of Written Statements
    Art. 37 Hearings
    Art. 38 Witnesses and Experts.
    Art. 39 Minutes

Chapter VIII: Termination of the Proceedings

    Art. 40 Objections to Competence
    Art. 41 Closure of the Proceeding
    Art. 42 The Report
    Art. 43 Communication of the Report

Chapter IX: Costs

    Art. 44 Cost of Proceeding

Chapter X: General Provisions

    Art. 45 Final Provision


Schedule B: Conciliation (Additional Facility) Rules

Chapter I: Introduction

Article 1
Scope of Application

Where the parties to a dispute have agreed that it shall be referred to conciliation under the Conciliation (Additional Facility) Rules, the dispute shall be settled in accordance with these Rules.

 

Chapter II: Institution of Proceedings

Article 2
The Notice

(1) Any State or any national of a State wishing to institute conciliation proceedings (hereinafter called the "Requesting Party") under the Additional Facility shall send a notice to that effect in writing to the Secretariat at the seat of the Centre. It shall be drawn up in an official language of the Centre, shall be dated and shall be signed by the party sending it.

(2) The notice may be given jointly by the parties to the dispute.

Article 3
Contents of the Notice

(1) The notice shall:

(a) designate precisely each party to the dispute and state the address of each;

(b) set forth the relevant provisions embodying the agreement of the parties to refer the dispute to conciliation;

(c) contain information concerning the issues in dispute; and

(d) indicate the date of approval by the Secretary-General pursuant to Article 4 of the Additional Facility Rules of the agreement of the parties providing for access to the Additional Facility.

(2) The notice may in addition set forth any provisions agreed by the parties regarding the number of conciliators and the method of their appointment, as well as any other provisions agreed concerning the settlement of the dispute.

(3) The notice shall be accompanied by five additional signed copies, and by the fee prescribed by Article 5 of the Administrative and Financial Rules (Additional Facility).

Article 4
Registration of the Notice

As soon as the Secretary-General shall have satisfied himself that the notice conforms in form and substance to the provisions of Article 3 of these Rules, he shall register the notice in the Conciliation (Additional Facility) Register and on the same day dispatch to the parties a certificate of registration. He shall also transmit a copy of the notice and of the accompanying documentation (if any) to the other party to the dispute (hereinafter called the "Other Party").

Article 5
Certificate of Registration

The certificate of registration of a notice shall:

(a) record that the notice is registered and indicate the date of the registration and of the dispatch of that notice;

(b) notify each party that all communications in connection with the proceeding will be sent to the address stated in the notice, unless another address is indicated to the Secretariat;

(c) unless such information has already been provided, invite the parties to communicate to the Secretary-General any provisions agreed by them regarding the number and the method of appointment of the conciliators; and

(d) invite the parties to proceed, as soon as possible, to constitute a Conciliation Commission in accordance with Chapter III of these Rules.

 

Chapter III: The Commission

Article 6
General Provisions

(1) Upon the dispatch of the certificate of registration of the notice for conciliation, the parties shall promptly proceed to constitute a Conciliation Commission.

(2) The Commission shall consist of a sole conciliator or any uneven number of conciliators appointed as the parties shall agree.

(3) In the absence of agreement between the parties regarding the number of conciliators and the method of their appointment, the Commission shall consist of three conciliators, one conciliator appointed by each party and the third, who shall be the President of the Commission, appointed by agreement of the parties.

(4) If the Commission shall not have been constituted within 90 days after the certificate of registration of the notice for conciliation has been dispatched by the Secretary-General, or such other period as the parties may agree, the Chairman of the Administrative Council (hereinafter called the "Chairman") shall, at the request of either party transmitted through the Secretary-General, appoint the conciliator or conciliators not yet appointed and, unless the President shall already have been designated or is to be designated later, designate a conciliator to be President of the Commission.

Article 7
Delegation in Case of Investment or Contract
Financed by World Bank Group

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6 (4) of these Rules, if the notice for conciliation relates to a dispute arising under any investment or agreement financed in whole or in part by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation or the International Development Association, the Secretary-General shall so inform the Chairman, and the Chairman shall, when required to take any action pursuant to these Rules, select a person to whom he shall promptly delegate all the functions, responsibilities and powers assigned to the Chairman hereunder. The Secretary-General shall promptly inform the parties of any action taken pursuant to this Article.

Article 8
Qualifications of Conciliators

Conciliators shall be persons of high moral character who may be relied upon to exercise independent judgment.

Article 9
Method of Constituting the Commission in the Absence
of Previous Agreement between the Parties

(1) If the parties, at the time of the registration of the notice for conciliation, have not agreed upon the number of conciliators and the method of their appointment, they shall, unless they agree otherwise, follow the following procedures:

(a) the Requesting Party shall, within 10 days after the registration of the notice, propose to the Other Party the appointment of a sole conciliator or of a specified uneven number of conciliators and specify the method proposed for their appointment;

(b) within 20 days after receipt of the proposals made by the Requesting Party, the Other Party shall:

(i) accept such proposals; or

(ii) make other proposals regarding the number of conciliators and the method of their appointment; and

(c) within 20 days after receipt of the reply containing any such proposals, the Requesting Party shall notify the Other Party whether it accepts or rejects such proposals.

(2) The communications provided for in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be made or promptly confirmed in writing and shall either be transmitted through the Secretary-General or directly between the parties with a copy to the Secretary-General. The parties shall promptly notify the Secretary-General of the contents of any agreement reached.

(3) At any time 60 days after the registration of the notice, if no agreement on another procedure is reached, either party may inform the Secretary-General that it chooses the formula provided for in Article 6 (3) of these Rules. The Secretary-General shall thereupon promptly inform the parties that the Commission is to be constituted in accordance with that provision.

Article 10
Appointment of Conciliators to Commission Constituted
in Accordance with Article 6 (3) of These Rules

(1) If the Commission is to be constituted in accordance with Article 6 (3) of these Rules:

(a) the Requesting Party shall, in a communication to the Other Party:

(i) name two persons, identifying one of them as the conciliator appointed by it and the other as the conciliator proposed to be the President of the Commission; and

(ii) invite the Other Party to concur in the appointment of the conciliator proposed to be the President of the Commission and to appoint another conciliator;

(b) promptly upon receipt of this communication the Other Party shall, in its reply:

(i) name a person as the conciliator appointed by it; and

(ii) concur in the appointment of the conciliator proposed to be the President of the Commission or name another person as the conciliator proposed to be the President; and

(c) promptly upon receipt of the reply containing such a proposal, the Requesting Party shall notify the Other Party whether it concurs in the appointment of the conciliator proposed by that party to be the President of the Commission.

(2) The communications provided for in this Article shall be made or promptly confirmed in writing and shall either be transmitted through the Secretary-General or directly between the parties with a copy to the Secretary-General.

Article 11
Appointment of Conciliators and Designation of
President of the Commission by the Chairman

(1) Promptly upon receipt of a request by a party to the Chairman to make an appointment or designation pursuant to Article 6 (4) of these Rules, the Secretary-General shall send a copy thereof to the other party.

(2) The Chairman shall use his best efforts to comply with that request within 30 days after its receipt, or such longer period as the parties may agree. Before he proceeds to make appointments or a designation, he shall consult both parties as far as possible.

(3) The Secretary-General shall promptly notify the parties of any appointment or designation made by the Chairman.

Article 12
Acceptance of Appointments

(1) The party or parties concerned shall notify the Secretary-General of the appointment of each conciliator and indicate the method of his appointment.

(2) As soon as the Secretary-General has been informed by a party or the Chairman of the appointment of a conciliator, he shall seek an acceptance from the appointee.

(3) If a conciliator fails to accept his appointment within 15 days, the Secretary-General shall promptly notify the parties, and if appropriate the Chairman, and invite them to proceed to the appointment of another conciliator in accordance with the method followed for the previous appointment.

Article 13
Replacement of Conciliators prior to Constitution of the Commission

At any time before the Commission is constituted, each party may replace any conciliator appointed by it and the parties may by common consent agree to replace any conciliator.

Article 14
Constitution of the Commission

(1) The Commission shall be deemed to be constituted and the proceeding to have begun on the date the Secretary-General notifies the parties that all the conciliators have accepted their appointment.

(2) Before or at the first session of the Commission, each conciliator shall sign a declaration in the following form:

"To the best of my knowledge there is no reason why I should not serve on the Conciliation Commission constituted with respect to a dispute between and _____________________ and _________________.

"I shall keep confidential all information coming to my knowledge as a result of my participation in this proceeding, as well as the contents of any report drawn up by the Commission.

"A statement of my past and present professional, business and other relevant relationships (if any) with the parties is attached hereto.

"I shall not accept any instruction or compensation with regard to the proceeding from any source except as provided in the Administrative and Financial Rules (Additional Facility)."

Any conciliator failing to sign such a declaration by the end of the first session of the Tribunal shall be deemed to have resigned.

Article 15
Replacement of Conciliators after Constitution of the Commission

(1) After a Commission has been constituted and proceedings have begun, its composition shall remain unchanged; provided, however, that if a conciliator should die, become incapacitated, resign or be disqualified, the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided in this Article and Article 18 of these Rules.

(2) A conciliator who becomes incapacitated shall, as soon as possible, notify the other members of the Commission and the Secretary-General thereof.

(3) A conciliator may resign by submitting his resignation to the other members of the Commission and the Secretary-General. If the conciliator was appointed by one of the parties, the Commission shall promptly consider the reasons for his resignation and decide whether it consents thereto. The Commission shall promptly notify the Secretary-General of its decision.

Article 16
Disqualification of Conciliators

(1) A party may propose to a Commission the disqualification of any of its members on account of any fact indicating a manifest lack of the qualities required by Article 8 of these Rules.

(2) A party proposing the disqualification of a conciliator shall promptly, and in any event before the proceeding is declared closed, file its proposal with the Secretary-General, stating its reasons therefor.

(3) The Secretary-General shall forthwith:

(a) transmit the proposal to the members of the Commission and, if it relates to a sole conciliator or to a majority of the members of the Commission, to the Chairman; and

(b) notify the other party of the proposal.

(4) The conciliator to whom the proposal relates may, without delay, furnish explanations to the Commission or the Chairman, as the case may be.

(5) The decision on any proposal to disqualify a conciliator shall be taken by the other members of the Commission except that where those members are equally divided, or in the case of a proposal to disqualify a sole conciliator, or a majority of the conciliators, the Chairman shall take that decision.

(6) Whenever the Chairman has to decide on a proposal to disqualify a conciliator, he shall take that decision within 30 days after he has received the proposal.

(7) The proceeding shall be suspended until a decision has been taken on the proposal.

Article 17
Procedure during a Vacancy on the Commission

(1) The Secretary-General shall forthwith notify the parties and, if necessary, the Chairman of the disqualification, death, incapacity or resignation of a conciliator and of the consent, if any, of the Commission to a resignation.

(2) Upon the notification by the Secretary-General of a vacancy on the Commission, the proceeding shall be or remain suspended until the vacancy has been filled.

Article 18
Filling Vacancies on the Commission

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this Article, a vacancy resulting from the disqualification, death, incapacity or resignation of a conciliator shall be promptly filled by the same method by which his appointment has been made.

(2) In addition to filling vacancies relating to conciliators appointed by him, the Chairman shall:

(a) fill a vacancy caused by the resignation, without the consent of the Commission, of a conciliator appointed by a party; or

(b) at the request of either party, fill any other vacancy, if no new appointment is made and accepted within 30 days of the notification of the vacancy by the Secretary-General.

(3) In filling a vacancy the party or the Chairman, as the case may be, shall observe the provisions of these Rules with respect to the appointment of conciliators. Article 14 (2) of these Rules shall apply mutatis mutandis to the newly appointed conciliator.

Article 19
Resumption of Proceeding after Filling a Vacancy

As soon as a vacancy on the Commission has been filled, the proceeding shall continue from the point it had reached at the time the vacancy occurred. The newly appointed conciliator may, however, require that the oral procedure be recommended, if this had already been started.

 

Continue on to Chapter IV: Place of Proceedings