Europe: International Law

Bulgaria's Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into controversial real estate transactions involving Russian state properties in Sofia.

A Russian national has been arrested at Tbilisi airport in Georgia and faces potential extradition to the United States on charges related to exporting aircraft parts to Russia in violation of US sanctions.

Dutch Customs has launched a major investigation involving raids in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, searches of a container vessel, and the arrest of its captain.

A PCA tribunal examined whether diplomatic notes exchanged between Rwanda and the UK amended their asylum partnership's financial obligations, and whether the UK breached its duty to negotiate refugee resettlement arrangements.

Enforcing arbitral awards against sovereign States presents complex strategic and practical challenges, particularly when navigating sovereign immunity arguments, cross-border asset identification, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings. A recent London International Disputes Week discussion examined these issues through the lens of the landmark Zhongshan v. Nigeria case, where a Chinese investor successfully secured and enforced a USD 70 million investment arbitration award against an African Sta

On 22 May 2026, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) published its updated Arbitration Rules (2026 ICC Rules), which will apply to all ICC arbitrations commenced on or after 1 June 2026.

The Dutch government has prohibited a US IT company from acquiring Solvinity, the operator behind DigiD, the Netherlands' digital identity verification system. This decision raises important questions about how national security concerns intersect with foreign investment in critical telecommunications infrastructure and what legal mechanisms exist to protect public interests in the digital age.

The United Kingdom and Gulf Cooperation Council have finalized a free trade agreement that includes Guernsey for goods and key financial services elements. This development strengthens the island's international trading position with the six-nation bloc comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The agreement is expected to create new opportunities for local businesses while deepening existing relationships across financial and professional services sectors.

Malta and Bulgaria have amended their double taxation treaty to align the Mutual Agreement Procedure with OECD standards, introducing a justification requirement that was conspicuously absent from the original text. While this change brings the treaty into conformity with international practice, the absence of mandatory arbitration provisions means taxpayers still lack a binding dispute resolution mechanism if competent authorities reach an impasse.