Recent and Current Events
17/05/2022 - 18/05/2022
Palestine*/online - The Venice Commission is organising the 15th UniDem Med Seminar entitled "Public service policies : paradigms for changes", in co-operation with the General Personnel Council of Palestine*. This seminar will take place on 17-18 May 2022 in a hybrid format : online and face-to face in Ramallah, Palestine*.
Around 100 international experts and senior public officials from the Southern Mediterranean (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine* and Tunisia) are expected to attend this event. On the basis of presentations by international and regional expert... read more
16/05/2022
The government of France has made a voluntary contribution designated for several Council of Europe's projects, including 50.000€ to support the activities of the Venice Commission.
On this occasion Ambassador Marie Fontanel, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe, met with Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and both dignitaries signed the relevant agreement.
15/05/2022 - 18/05/2022
Punta Cana – The Ibero-American Conference on Constitutional Justice is holding its XIVth Congress.
The event is co-organised by the Constitutional Court of Dominican Republic.
The President Emeritus, Special Representative of the Venice Commission, Mr Gianni Buquicchio, participated in the event.
12/05/2022 - 13/05/2022
Tashkent / online - The Venice Commission is organising in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan an international conference entitled “Modernisation of the Public Administration in Central Asia and respect of the Rule of Law Principles”. The conference will take place on 12-13 May 2022 in Tashkent as a hybrid event and will bring together senior civil servants from the following Central Asia countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as Venice Commission experts from France, Germany, Georgia, Italy and Portugal.
The event w... read more
12/05/2022
The Government of Bulgaria has made a voluntary contribution of €10 000 to support the Venice Commission action to promote the development of democratic institutions based on respect for the rule of law and human rights.
The agreement was signed on 12 May 2022 by Ms Nadejda Iordanova, Minister of Justice of Bulgaria, and Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General.
11/05/2022 - 12/05/2022
In the framework of the preparation of the draft opinion on the Law on Media of Azerbaijan, a delegation of the Venice Commission met online with journalists, media lawyers, the international community present in Baku and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the forthcoming plenary session of the Venice Commission (17-18 June 2022).
10/05/2022
The Hague/online – The President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, participated in an online debate on “the Rule of Law”, organised by the Standing Committee for Justice and Security of the Senate of the Netherlands.
Ms Bazy Malaurie took part in a discussion following the Venice Commission’s 2022 Opinion on the “Legal Protection of Citizens” in the Netherlands.
10/05/2022
The Venice Commission organised in cooperation with the Constitutional Court of Tajikistan an international round table on Constitutional Justice and the Rule of Law. The round table was held in Dushanbe on 10th May 2022.
The event brought together representatives from Constitutional Courts and Councils of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as well as Venice Commission experts from Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan.
The participants discussed such issues as:
• the rule of law as a fundamental constitutional principle,
• the impact of constitutional j... read more
10/05/2022 - 11/05/2022
In the framework of the preparation of the Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR on the draft Law on Political Parties of Mongolia, a delegation of the Venice Comission and OSCE/ODIHR met (online) with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Parliament, the President’s office, political parties and civil Society Representatives, and other competent authorities and stakeholders.
The draft joint opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 131st Plenary Session, 17-18 June 2022.
10/05/2022
Ankara - In the framework of the preparation of the opinion on the revised electoral legislation, a delegation of the Venice Commission held meetings with the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Election Board, the political parties represented in Parliament, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and civil society.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the forthcoming plenary session of the Venice Commission (17-18 June 2022).
10/05/2022 - 11/05/2022
Pristina - In the framework of the preparation of the draft opinion on the draft law N°08/L-121 on the State Bureau for Verification and Confiscation of Unjustified Assets, a delegation of the Venice Commission visited Pristina to meet with the (representatives of) the following authorities and other stakeholders:
• The Speaker and members of the Legislation Committee of the Assembly,
• the Ministry of Justice,
• the President of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutorial Council, the Judicial Council, the Office of the State Prosecutor,
• the Anti-Corruption Agency and... read more
ROMANIA - 30th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court
09/05/2022 - 11/05/2022
The President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, will deliver a video message on the occasion of the International Conference for the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Romanian Constitutional Court, to be held on 9-11 May 2022.
04/05/2022 - 05/05/2022
Palermo - The President of the Venice Commission, Mme Claire Bazy-Malaurie, will participate in the European Conference of Prosecutors organised in the framework of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
29/04/2022
Strasbourg, Council of Europe - The report on the Evaluation of the Venice Commission, as well as the management response and action plan, conducted by the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services (CSES) and the Evaluation Division of the Directorate of Internal Oversight are now available.
The aims of the evaluation were to assess the Venice Commission’s relevance, effectiveness and efficiency for the period 2016-2020 and evaluate its impact since its establishment in 1990. The report’s findings contribute to decision-making needs and provide recommendations to support learnin... read more
28/04/2022 - 29/04/2022
Geneva – A representative of the Venice Commission participated in an international conference entitled “Freedom of expression in political speech”, organised online by the University of Geneva, Global Studies Institute and the Council of Europe.
Ms Herdis Kjerulf Thorgeirsdottir intervened on the topic “The importance of freedom of political expression (of politicians and candidates in elections) for democracy from the viewpoint of the Venice Commission”.
28/04/2022
Luxembourg has made a voluntary contribution designated for several Council of Europe's projects, including 20.000€ to support the activities of the Venice Commission.
On this occasion Ambassador Patrick Engelberg, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe met with Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, and representatives of the relevant departments.
27/04/2022
The Delegation of the European Union in Tunisia requested an Urgent opinion of the Venice Commission on the Decree-Law N°22 of 22 April 2022 amending and supplementing the organic law on the Independent Superior Electoral Body (ISIE).
The Urgent opinion will be issued in due time and subsequently will be endorsed by the Venice Commission at its June plenary session (16-18 June 2022).
26/04/2022 - 27/04/2022
Beirut – In the framework of the preparation of the draft opinion on the draft Law amending Legislative Decree n° 150/1983 on the Organisation of the Judiciary, a delegation of the Venice Commission visited Beirut to meet with the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Higher Judicial Council, the Parliament, the Constitutional Council, as well as with the representatives of the civil society and the judges’ associations.
The request for this opinion was submitted by the Minister of Justice of Lebanon on 6 September 2021. The draft opinion will be on the agenda of the Jun... read more
24/04/2022 - 28/04/2022
Ankara – the President Emeritus, Special Representative of the Venice Commission, Mr Gianni Buquicchio, participated in the ceremony devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Turkey.
On this occasion the Court held a symposium entitled “Interpretation of the constitution in the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms”. Mr Buquicchio delivered a speech on the “Comparative constitutional interpretation as a means to promote democracy, the protection of human rights and the rule of law”.
22/04/2022
Almaty - The Venice Commission organised on 22nd April 2022 an international conference in cooperation with the Constitutional Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation, the Sorbonne Institute-Kazakhstan and the United Nations Office in Kazakhstan.
The conference, entitled “Constitutional and international aspects of the upholding of the rule of law”, was organised in a hybrid format. The event coincided with the 10th anniversary of the ac... read more
04/04/2022
Following a request by Mongolian authorities, the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR will prepare a Joint Opinion on the draft law on political parties of Mongolia.
The draft Joint Opinion will be submitted for adoption at the at the Commission’s 131th plenary session (Venice, 17-18 June 2022).
01/04/2022 - 04/04/2022
Belgrade - Representatives of the Venice Commission accompanied the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) election observation delegation to advise on the legal framework of the presidential and early parliamentary elections of 3 April 2022 in Serbia.
The delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the elections.
01/04/2022
TUNIS - The President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, met today, Friday 1 April, the Tunisian President, H.E. Kaïs Saïed.
After the last months of the exercise of power by the Tunisian President in the absence of a clear constitutional framework, having led on 30 March to the dissolution of parliament until that date "frozen", and the opening of a judicial investigation against certain deputies who took part in a virtual session of parliament on the same day, the President of the Venice Commission wished to discuss with the President the modalities for the return... read more
01/04/2022
The PACE Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by members States of the Council of Europe requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the latest amendments to the electoral law in Turkey.
The opinion will be submitted for discussion and adoption at the 131st Plenary Session of the Commission (17-18 June 2022).
29/03/2022
Santiago - The Centre for Public Studies (CEP) of Chile held a seminar on the implications of the Venice Commission “Opinion on the drafting and adoption of a new Constitution” (CDL-AD(2022)004) for the current constitutional process in the country.
The participants discussed the recommendations of the opinion, adopted during the Commission’s plenary session (18-19 March 2022), and their possible impact on the discussions within the Constitutional Convention of Chile. Representatives of the Venice Commission took part in the seminar.
24/03/2022 - 28/03/2022
Tunis - A training to become trainers for the benefit of judges of the Centre for Legal and Judicial Studies (CLJS) and the Ministry of Justice was held from 24 to 28 March 2022. Fourteen (14) participants attended this event at the National Centre for Training of Trainers and Training Engineering (CENAFFIF), which has extensive expertise in this area.
This activity was organised by the Venice Commission, which supports the CLJS within the framework of the joint programme between the European Union and the Council of Europe "Improving the functioning, performance and access to just... read more
BELGIUM – Hearing on the financing of political parties
23/03/2022
A representative of the Venice Commission took part in a hearing before the Constitution and Institutional Renewal Commission of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on the limitation and control of expenses incurred for the election of the House of Representatives, and on the financing and open accounting of political parties.
“Democratic pluralism in regional governance: relationship between the majority and the opposition”- 42nd session of the Council of Europe Congress session - Chamber of Regions’ debate
23/03/2022
In the framework of the 42nd session of the Council of Europe Congress session, its Chamber of Regions held a debate on “Democratic pluralism in regional governance: relationship between the majority and the opposition”.
A representative of the Venice Commission presented the work of the Venice Commission on the relationship between majority and opposition and subsequently participated in the general debate.
19/03/2022
During its 130th plenary session, the Venice Commission made the following statement:
"The Venice Commission fully supports the public statement on “the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine” made by its President on 1 March 2022.
The Commission expresses its firm condemnation of this act of aggression by the Russian Federation and deplores the loss of lives and the destruction in Ukraine.
The Commission, the full name of which is “European Commission for Democracy through Law”, is fully committed, as the preamble of the Council of Europe statu... read more
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
23/03/2022
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the enlarged agreement European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).
21/03/2022 - 22/03/2022
Rome, 21-22.03.2022 - The Venice Commission in co-operation with the university La Sapienza, Rome and the University of Barcelona, held an international round table entitled "SHAPING JUDICIAL COUNCILS TO MEET CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES" in hybrid format: online and in Rome, at the Rectoral Palace of the the University La Sapienza.
This round table examined national examples of composition of judicial councils, and, building upon recent experiences, formulate further recommendations as to how its members - judicial, lay and any ex officio, should be selected and appointed. It also dea... read more
19/03/2022
Venice / online - The Bureau of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice held its 17th meeting.
18/03/2022 - 19/03/2022
Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista / online - Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 130h Plenary Session was held in a hybrid form, in Venice and online.
The Venice Commission:
- was informed of the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that the Russian Federation has ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe as of 16 March 2022;
- was informed of the decision of the Committee of Ministers on 17 March 2022 to suspend Belarus from participating in the work of the Venice Commission;
- heard a message from Mr Serhiy Holovaty, ... read more