In 1960, the Council of the Bar of Lille had examined a proposition aiming to create a Court of arbitration with the cooperation of the local Chamber of commerce and industry and of the Regional Economic Administration.

However thirty years and the obstinacy of the Batonnier Bernard LEBAS were necessary to realise that scheme. In june 1989 was officialy announced the birth of CAREN, Court of Arbitration of Northern Europe, and the first event took place in october under presidency of Mr MERTENS de WILMARS, former lawyer in Antwerpen and President of the Court of Justice of the European Community.

The Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Community, the Regional Order of Accountants, the Regional Company of Revisors, the Regional Council of Notaries, the Bars of Tournai (Belgium) and Bethune and the Company of Legal Counsels joigned the Bar and the Chamber of Commerce of Lille.

The first president of CAREN was Mr Roger VIENNE, honorary President of the Commercial Chamber of the Supreme Court and the first vice-president the late Rector Guy DEBEYRE.

Beyond its activities in arbitration of commercial, national or international conflicts, CAREN has organised numerous conferences and developed contacts with other (french and foreign) arbitration centers. Today CAREN is a member of

• the association LILLE PLACE JURIDIQUE, which in 1997 asked CAREN to provide services of mediation for manufacturers, traders and craftsmen ;

• the COMITE FRANCAIS DE L'ARBITRAGE (French Commitee of Arbitration) that groups the french - specialised as well as generalist - centers ;

• the EIEG RESEAU EUROPEEN D'ARBITRAGE ET DE MEDIATION (REAM).

In 1993, the Batonnier VEROONE, former Head of the French Delegation to the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), succeeded Mr VIENNE.

On October 7th 1999 was celebrated the tenth anniversary of CAREN with the participation of the Universities of Montreal (Canada), Mons (Belgium) and Lille and the presence of numerous foreign and french jurists.

In 2000, Mr Henri BELOT, former President of the Commercial Court of Lille succeeded Mr VEROONE.