Article 34 Settlement of disputes

The European Committee on Crime Problems of the Council of Europe shall be kept informed of the interpretation and application of this Agreement.

In case of a dispute between Parties as to the interpretation or application of this Agreement, the Parties shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their choice, including submission of the dispute to the European Committee on Crime Problems, to an arbitral tribunal whose decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, mediation, conciliation or judicial process, as agreed upon by the Parties concerned.

Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or on any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, declare that, in respect of any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, it recognises as compulsory, without prior agreement, and subject to reciprocity, the submission of the dispute to arbitration in accordance with the procedure set out in the appendix to this Agreement.

Any dispute which has not been settled in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 3 of this article shall be referred, at the request of any one of the parties to the dispute, to the International Court of Justice for decision.

Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 4 of this article.

Any Party having made a declaration in accordance with paragraphs 3 or 5 of this article may at any time withdraw the declaration by notification to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.