Recent and Current Events
20/07/2021
In the context of the preparation of the assessment of the constitutional reform in Serbia and following two opinion requests by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, a delegation of the Venice Commission met (online) with the Working Group of the National Assembly of Serbia to discuss proposed amendments to the constitution.
TUNISIA - Strengthening of the legal framework governing referendums in Tunisia - virtual workshop
15/07/2021
Tunis - The Venice Commission and the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) are organising an online workshop on referendums.
This event will allow for an exchange on the legal framework relating to referendums in Tunisia, both nationally and locally, in order to contribute to the process of the preparation of possible legislative changes. International standards as well as best practices will be presented by international experts.
14/07/2021
The European Parliament and the Parliament of Georgia organised an online conference on the importance of ensuring the rights and responsibilities of the opposition in a modern and inclusive parliament.
The main speakers were prominent politicians with extensive experience in the European and national parliaments. They offered both normative framework as well as comparative analysis of best practices across Europe. A member of the Venice Commission presented its report on the “Role of the opposition in a democratic Parliament”.
The primary audience of the conference were... read more
12/07/2021
On 9 July 2021 the President of the Constitutional Court of Albania requested an amicus curiae opinion to address in particular the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court over the constitutionality of the election process and the interrelation of the fundamental constitutional principles of periodicity of local elections and political pluralism, in relationship with the 2019 local elections.
The draft amicus curiae brief should be submitted for adoption by the 128th plenary session of the Venice Commission.
Request for opinion - UNITED KINGDOM
12/07/2021
By letter dated 14 May 2021, the Ombudsman and Chair of the Parliamentary and Health Service requested the opinion of the Venice Commission on the proposed exclusion of the Ombudsman from “safe space” investigations in the National Health Service.
The draft opinion will be delivered for discussion and adoption at the 128th Plenary session (14-16 October 2021).
10/07/2021 - 12/07/2021
Sofia - A delegation 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 early parliamentary elections scheduled on 11 July 2021 in Bulgaria.
The delegation held meetings with representatives of political parties and of the Central Election Commission.
The delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the elections.
08/07/2021 - 12/07/2021
Chisinau - A delegation 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 early parliamentary elections scheduled on 11 July 2021 in the Republic of Moldova.
The delegation held meetings with other international observers, representatives of the political parties, media and civil society.
The delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the elections.
07/07/2021
By letter dated 2 June 2021, the Minister of Justice of the Slovak Republic, Ms Mária Kolíková, requested a Venice Commission’s opinion on two questions regarding the organisation of the legal profession in the Slovak Republic and the role of the Supreme Administrative Court in the disciplinary proceedings against barristers.
The Commission will prepare a draft opinion with a view to adoption at the 128th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission.
07/07/2021
By letter dated 4 June 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Mr Oleksii Reznikov, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law “On the principles of state policy of the transition period”.
The Commission will prepare a draft opinion with a view to adoption at the 128th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission.
06/07/2021 - 09/07/2021
Saint–Petersburg - The Vice President of the Venice Commission, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, took part online in the opening session of the high level international conference co-organised by the Council of Europe and the office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation on the role of the prosecution service in the defence of individual rights and of the public interest.
Ms Bazy Malaurie also participated in a panel discussion on the functions of the prosecution service outside of the criminal law field.
02/07/2021 - 03/07/2021
The plenary session was held in a hybrid form: on-line and at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice.
The Commission adopted the following opinions:
• an opinion on the draft Law on preventing conflict of interests in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• an opinion on the compatibility with international human rights standards of bills introduced late last year to the Russian State Duma, to amend laws affecting so-called “foreign agents”;
• an opinion on constitutional amendments adopted by the Hungarian parliament in December 2020;
• ... read more