The principles of loyalty, expediency and confidentiality are now specifically recognized by French arbitration legislation. Decree 2011-48 of January 13, 2008, by which France adopted a new arbitration act applicable to both international and domestic arbitration, provides that «(…) Both parties and arbitrators shall act expediently and loyally in the conduct of the proceedings. Subject to legal requirements and unless otherwise agreed by the parties, arbitral proceedings shall be confidential». Although these principles had already been established by case law and applied in international arbitration, these provisions reinforce and clarify their application. This article sets out and discusses the contributions made by the Decree as well as the actual application of these principles in the context of arbitration, both in relation to the parties as well as to the arbitrators.