A publishing house JURIS issued the latest volume of the Czech (& Central European) Yearbook of Arbitration (2014 Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators) that contains an article “Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators and Mediators –The Castor and Pollux of the ADR World?” written by Dr. Martin Svatos, Ph.D. You can read the excerpt here:
Independence and impartiality are considered to be fundamental principles of both arbitration and mediation. Though few would dispute this affirmation, there are still questions that remain to be answered. Do these principles have the same scope? Are they of the same nature or do they differ in some specific way? And finally, are they of the same importance?
Both mediation and arbitration regard neutrality as a core ethical principle. This can be seen when considering the definitions of individual alternative dispute resolution (ADR) frameworks. In fact, there are plenty of definition describing arbitration and mediation with the aid of the terms impartiality or neutrality.
The whole article can by approached here via SSRN.
About the project of CYArb:
The concept of arbitration as a method of dispute resolution is becoming increasingly important. Throughout the region, it is a frequently very progressive legal sector attractive both from a practical point of view and for specialists from various sectors. Central and Eastern Europe, on which this project focuses (though not exclusively), is steeped in the Roman tradition of continental Europe, where arbitration is based on the autonomy of the parties and informal procedure. This classical approach is somewhat different from the principles on which the system of arbitration in countries with a common-law tradition is built. Nevertheless, it is a highly particularized and fragmented system. A particular shortcoming is the absence of a comparative standard and base which would facilitate the identification of differences in individual countries and of common features of arbitration in the region, thus helping to resolve frequently identical problems. The CYArb® project aims to help address this issue and provide a forum for comparisons of arbitration practice and doctrine in different countries, both mutually and in relation to other international practices. It sheds light on practical and academic fields in those countries in order to compare domestic approaches to arbitration and to make a comparison with broader European and international practices. It also constitutes a basis for the exchange of information and legal research on arbitration.
You can read more here.