The Emergency Arbitration of the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) has rejected the primary request of the concessionaire of the Vlora Airport to suspend the termination of the concession contract, thereby upholding the termination of the contract by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE).

According to the MIE’s announcement, the Emergency Arbitrator’s Order was issued on September 16, 2026, within the framework of emergency arbitration proceedings initiated by VIA, the Vlora Airport concessionaire.

The Arbitrator rejected two of VIA’s three requests, including the request to suspend the contract termination and the Notice of Termination. According to the MIE, the Arbitrator determined that neither the contract nor the evidence presented provided a sufficient legal basis to suspend the termination.

Consequently, according to the MIE, the termination of the Concession Contract has taken effect. The Arbitrator also rejected VIA’s request for the MIE to participate in mediation and appoint a mediator, as well as the request to postpone the commencement of arbitration by two months.

Meanwhile, a temporary, short-term measure to preserve the status quo has been ordered. According to the MIE, this measure temporarily restricts the exercise of certain rights arising from the termination of the contract and will remain in effect until the arbitration tribunal is constituted and reviews the case.

It is worth noting that Behgjet Pacolli, who holds a 98% stake in VIA through MABCO, claims otherwise. In his statement, he says that the emergency arbitrator has ordered the MIE to refrain from any action regarding the termination of the concession that could exacerbate the dispute or prejudice the arbitration proceedings.

The Ministry states that it will proceed with the next steps resulting from the contract termination, while complying with the interim measure imposed pending the constitution of the arbitration tribunal.