Recent and Current Events
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
Pristina – Representatives of the Venice Commission will provide legal support to the election observation delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at the occasion of the parliamentary elections of 9 February 2025 in Kosovo.
The delegation will participate in briefings before and after the elections, and observe the opening, voting and counting processes.
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
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
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.'
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