Secretary General Alain Berset is set to address the Council of Europe’s European Commission for democracy through law – also known as the Venice Commission – at the close of its plenary session on Saturday 7 March, underscoring his commitment to strengthening the rule of law across Europe.
He will highlight the Venice Commission’s unique role in advising on constitutional matters that strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, work he says is essential at a time when the foundations of the international legal order face extraordinary pressure. He will stress that against this growing pressure on democratic institutions worldwide, the Venice Commission’s independent constitutional expertise constitutes an important reference for buttressing checks and balances, judicial independence and democratic governance.
The session – running 6-7 March at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista – will adopt or endorse a slate of opinions on constitutional and legal reforms in several countries (Finland, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Peru, and the Slovak Republic) alongside reports and its 2025 Annual Report of activities. These documents will be published on the Venice Commission website next week.
Learn more about the Council of Europe’s work on the rule of law
