Slovakia wins international arbitration against Polish investor

The use of mineral water from springs located in the Slovak village of Legnava (Prešov region), which was supposed to have been transported by pipeline to Poland and bottled in the Polish village of Muszyna, was the subject of an international dispute between Slovakia and the Polish investor Muszynianka. On Thursday, the Finance Ministry's press department informed that the arbitration tribunal had issued a final decision in favour of Slovakia. The plaintiff was demanding almost 170 million from Slovakia in compensation, claiming that an amendment to the Slovak Constitution that regulates exports of unpackaged water contradicts international law. However, the arbitration tribunal confirmed that the regulation introduced by the aforementioned amendment in no way represents a violation of the bilateral investment agreement. The arbitration tribunal's verdict is an important precedent for other EU countries as well, as it declared that Slovakia is fully authorised to protect its natural resources.