Recent and Current Events
18/02/2025
Brussels/online - On 18 February 2025, Ms Simona Granata-Menghini, Secretary of the Venice Commission, participated online in the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights’ exchange of views on the rule of law in the enlargement process. The Secretary presented the Venice Commission’s work, in particular its Rule of Law Checklist and the opinions prepared for the four enlargement countries covered by the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report (Albania, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Serbia).
12/03/2025
On the occasion of its 35th anniversary, the Venice Commission, in co-operation with the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL), will organise the international conference entitled “Lessons Learned and Learning Lessons: The Venice Commission’s Experience in Elaborating Transnationally Valid Constitutional Standards”, which will take place in Venice, Palazzo Ferro Fini, on 12 March 2025.
The conference will bring together international and constitutional law experts, members of the Venice Commission, representatives of the Council of Europe, and experts of the Inter... read more
03/02/2025 - 11/02/2025
On 3 and 11 February 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation for the draft Opinion on the Emergency Ordinance regarding some measures for the organisation and conduct of the elections for members from Romania in the European Parliament in 2024 and the elections for local public administration authorities in 2024. This opinion was requested by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The delegation engaged in discussions with representatives of the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania; the Romanian ... read more
10/02/2025
Pristina – Representatives of the Venice Commission provided legal support to the election observation delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at the occasion of the elections to the Assembly of Kosovo of 9 February 2025.
The delegation participated in briefings before and after the elections, and observed the opening, voting and counting processes.
10/02/2025 - 11/02/2025
Chisinau - On 10 and 11 February, a delegation of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Chisinau, Moldova, in the framework of the preparation of the draft Opinion on the Draft Law on the Constitutional Court. This Opinion was requested by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova on 6 November 2024. The Venice Commission delegation met with representatives of the parliamentary majority and opposition, the Ministry of Justice, the Constitutional Court, the Superior Council of Magistrates as well as with representatives of civil society and international organisations. The draft ... read more
07/02/2025 - 07/02/2025
On 7 February 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation for the draft Opinion on the amendments to the Organic Law "Election Code of Georgia", pertaining to local elections. This opinion was requested by the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
The delegation engaged in discussions with the representatives from different groups of the Parliament of Georgia, the Central Election Commission as well as civil society organisations and different international interlocutors.
The ... read more
06/02/2025 - 06/02/2025
Lima - On 29 and 30 January, a delegation of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Lima, Peru, to prepare the Opinion on the draft amendments to Article 99 of the Constitution of Peru on the accountability of the members of the electoral management bodies. This Opinion was requested by the President of National Jury of Elections of Peru on 5 August 2024.
The Venice Commission delegation met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice President of the Congress of the Republic, Prosecutor General, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Constitutional and Supreme Courts,... read more
03/02/2025 - 04/02/2025
Budapest - On 3 and 4 February, a delegation of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Budapest, Hungary, in the framework of the preparation of the draft Opinion on certain provisions of Act XVII of 2024 on the Amendment of Laws related to Justice Matters. This Opinion was requested by the President of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 12 September 2024. The Venice Commission delegation met with representatives of the parliamentary majority and opposition, the Ministry of Justice, the National Judicial Council, the National Office for the ... read more
03/02/2025
By letters dated 21 January 2025, the Minister of Justice of Kyrgyzstan, Mr Ayaz Baetov, requested two opinions of the Venice Commission on the draft amendments to the Code of Offences on the compulsory transfer of offenders in a state of intoxication for emergency drug treatment and the draft amendments to the Law on Protection and Defence from Domestic Violence and in the Code of Offences.
The draft opinions will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
15-16/04/2025
Vilnius - The Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania and the Council for Democratic Elections will organise the 20th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies in Vilnius on 15 and 16 April 2025.
This year the European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies will be devoted to the theme of the “Stability of electoral law - Practical Aspects”.
31/01/2025
By letter dated 22 January 2025, the Minister of Justice of Armenia, Ms Srbuhi Galyan, requested an Opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft supplements and amendments to the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Expropriation of Property for Ensuring Overriding Public Interests.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
29/01/2025
Ms Katharina Pabel, substitute member of the Venice Commission and of the Council for Democratic Elections, represented the Venice Commission in the Annual meeting and launch of the Parliamentary Assembly Network of Election Observers.
The Parliamentary Assembly Network of Election Observers was established to address emerging challenges that threaten electoral integrity and undermine public trust in democratic processes across Council of Europe member States.
The Council for Democratic Elections is the only tripartite body of the Council of Europe, comprising members of the Venice ... read more
28/01/2025 - 29/01/2025
Pristina - On 28 and 29 January, a delegation of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Pristina in view of the preparation of the Opinion on the draft law on recruitment, performance evaluation, integrity control, and status of judges and prosecutors and the draft law amending the Law on the disciplinary liability of judges and prosecutors of Kosovo. This Opinion was requested by the Minister of Justice of Kosovo on 3 December 2024.
The Venice Commission delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Council, the Prosecutorial Council, the Assemb... read more
27/01/2025
Strasbourg – Today the Venice Commission issued its Urgent Report on the cancellation of election results by Constitutional Courts.
The request for an urgent report was made on 13 December 2024 by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The urgent report will be submitted for endorsement by the 142nd plenary session of the Venice Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
27/01/2025 - 28/01/2025
Pristina - On 27 and 28 January, two delegations of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Pristina, Kosovo, to prepare the Opinion on the draft amendments to the Law on the Academy of Justice and the Opinion on the draft amendments to the Law on the Judicial Council of Kosovo. These Opinions were requested by the Minister of Justice of Kosovo on 3 December 2024.
The Venice Commission delegations met with Ministry of Justice officials, the Academy of Justice, the Judicial Council, the Prosecutorial Council, the Bar Association, representatives of international organisations a... read more
23/01/2025
Budapest – On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Hungary, an International Conference on “Life Cycles in the Operation of Constitutional Courts: Challenges and Reponses” took place in Budapest on 23 January 2025. The President Emeritus and Special Representative of the Venice Commission, Mr Gianni Buquicchio, gave the keynote speech on “The Venice Commission and the Constitutional Court of Hungary: The transformative power of collaboration and the enduring importance of constitutional justice”.
23/01/2025 - 24/01/2025
On 23 and 24 January 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation of the draft follow-up opinion to previous opinions on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This follow-up opinion was requested by the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 November 2024.
The delegation engaged in discussions with the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Justice of the Federation and representatives of the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska, representatives from different... read more
23/12/2024
By letter dated 23 December 2024 Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, requested an urgent opinion of the Venice Commission on the amendments to the Code of administrative offences and the Law on assemblies and demonstrations of Georgia.
The urgent opinion will be submitted for endorsement by the 142nd plenary session of the Venice Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
23/12/2024
By letter dated 23 December 2024, Mr Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the amendments to the Organic Law "Election Code of Georgia", pertaining to local elections.
The opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd plenary session of the Venice Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
06/01/2025
By letter dated 21 November 2024, the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Davor Bunoza, has requested the Venice Commission for a follow-up opinion on the draft law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The draft follow-up opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
06/01/2025
By letter dated 13 December 2024 Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, requested an urgent report of the Venice Commission on the following question:
Under which conditions and under which legal standards can a constitutional court invalidate elections, drawing from the recent Romanian case?
The urgent report will be submitted for endorsement by the 142nd plenary session of the Venice Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
12/09/2024
By letter dated 12 September 2024, the President of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaše, requested an Opinion on certain provisions of Act XVII of 2024 on the Amendment of Laws related to Justice Matters of Hungary.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
NORTH MACEDONIA - Request for an amicus curiae
20/12/2024
Strasbourg – By letter dated 20 November 2024, the President of the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia requested an Amicus Curiae brief on international and European standards on the use of minority languages in public life and in the judiciary.
The draft joint Amicus curiae brief will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
20/12/2024
By letter dated 3 December 2024, the Minister of Justice of Kosovo, Ms Albulena Haxhiu, has requested the Venice Commission to provide opinions on reforms in the justice sector of Kosovo. These reforms encompass key areas such as:
- the recruitment, performance evaluation, integrity control, and the status of judges and prosecutors;
- the Kosovo Judicial Council;
- the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council;
- the Academy of Justice.
The draft opinions will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
19/12/2024
By letter dated 4 December 2024, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine requested an amicus curiae brief of the Venice Commission on alternative (non-military) service.
The draft amicus curiae brief will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd plenary session of the Commission (14-15 March 2025).
12/12/2024 - 12/12/2024
Brussels, 12 December 2024
The President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, participated in a hearing on "the Situation of the Rule of Law in the EU" at the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting of the LIBE Commission of the European Parliament.
10/12/2024
Warsaw 10 December 2024
The President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, took part in the XV Warsaw Human Rights Seminar entitled: Role of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights in strengthening democratic institutions on the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 65th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights (Warsaw, 10 December 2024). She delivered a special address on 'Upholding the rule of law : the Venice Commission's contribution to judicial independence in Europe.'
10/12/2024
On 10 December 2024, the Venice Commission in collaboration with the Central Election Commission of Albania, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’ s project “Strengthening Elections’ Integrity in Albania (SEI)”, and the OSCE Presence in Albania, co-organised a Conference on the topic of the “Depoliticization of electoral administration - the Need for Professional Electoral Workers”. The Conference brought together over 50 participants, including representatives from the CEC, political parties, and civil society organisations. Mr. Saša Zagorc, Substitute member in respect of Slo... read more
06/12/2024 - 07/12/2024
Venice, Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista - On 6-7 December 2024 the Venice Commission held its fourth plenary session of the year, with an agenda that included in particular:
Five draft opinions concerning :
- Albania on the implementation of Constitutional Court decisions by Parliament;
- Haiti on possible legislative solutions to conduct future electoral processes;
- Poland on the draft constitutional amendments concerning the Constitutional Tribunal and two draft laws on the Constitutional Tribunal;
- Serbia on the Judicial Academy and draft amen... read more