EUROPE to MOROCCO and SAUDI ARABIA, VENUES FOR THE 2030 AND 2034 FOOTBALL WORLD CUP

Click here to view the video seminar: 25 February 2025

This seminar organised by the Iberian Chapter of Ciarb's European Branch, the Arbitration Section of the Madrid Bar Association and Ovoli Abogados Árbitros Romero, with the collaboration of CIArb EU Branch, CIArb Italian Chapter, CIArb Greek Chapter, Moving Arbitration Up, In Arbitration Hub, CIAR Global, Il Sextante, El Economista - Iuris Lex Buen Gobierno y RSC, the International Institute of Transport Mediation and Arbitration IIMAT and Volvo|Battinver as Gold Sponsor, hosted our Seminar on dispute prevention – resolution at the Auditorium located at street Serrano, 9 in Madrid, headquarters of the ICAM.

The seminar analyzed the growing importance of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in managing complex international infrastructure projects, particularly in the context of major sporting events. The discussions emphasized the need for proactive dispute prevention and efficient resolution strategies in cross-border construction initiatives. The event brought together distinguished experts in arbitration, construction law, and sports infrastructure to address the complex challenges of cross-continental development projects.

The seminar began with a welcome address by the Chair of the Iberian chapter of CIArb Nazareth Romero and Anna Iacovou Stylianou from CIArb, who emphasized the crucial role of international collaboration in major sporting infrastructure projects.

Their opening remarks set the tone for a day of intensive discussions on the intersection of law, construction, and international sports events.

A significant portion of the seminar was dedicated to exploring new multimodal transport routes, with particular emphasis on two transformative projects: the Gibraltar Tunnel and the Messina Strait development. Civil Administrator and Doctor of Law Julio Fuentes, alongside Civil Engineer Juan Pedro Aguilar, presented detailed insights into these ambitious infrastructure initiatives. As the experts pointed out, one of the legal challenges is that tunnels must be constructed in areas where freedom of navigation applies and there is a limit to the sovereignty of States.

The discussion was enriched by Antero Ovoli's presentation on the Mattei Plan, which outlined a comprehensive strategy for enhancing connectivity between Europe and Africa. Mattei Plan takes its name from Enrico Mattei among other things, founder of ENI. It’s promoted and managed by the Italian Government, is based on the principles of the Mattei Project. The objective of the Mattei Plan is to build a new model of partnership with African nations and peoples. The Strait of Messina and the Mattei Plan, in their mutual complementarity, are giving a decisive boost to the concrete role of the Mediterranean Sea as a hub for the movement of people and goods.

Click here to view the full update.

Nazareth Romero, FCIArb

Chair Iberian Chapter EU Branch ciarb

Lawyer, arbitrator, mediator, and legal consultant

nazarethromero@ovoli.net

Iberian.Chapter@ciarb.org