The recent Law 11/2011, of May 20th, introduces a number of important amendments to the Law 60/2003 on Arbitration. This article discusses the new wording of Article 43, by clarifying the legal nature of arbitration and the effects that it displays the notification to the parties, while eliminating the distinction between final award and definitive award. This amendment, in addition to closing old doctrinal discussions, it has great practical importance to the extent that the strength of the award determines, among other things, the display time of the effects of res iudicata and the beginning of the period for computing the term of the executive action.