Ms Renata Deskoska, Vice-President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and member in respect of North Macedonia, participated in the 5th Global Conference on Parliamentary Studies titled “Parliaments at a Crossroads”. The conference took place on 4-6 June 2026 in Luxembourg.

This event was organised by the University of Luxembourg, in cooperation with the International Journal of Parliamentary Studies and Széchenyi István University. Ms Deskoska intervened in the inaugural lecture at the Council of State of Luxembourg.

In her speech, Ms Deskoska referenced the Updated Rule of Law Checklist adopted by the Venice Commission at its Plenary Session in December 2025 and stressed the central role of parliaments in the system of checks and balances which is at the heart of a functioning constitutional democracy.  “Parliamentary oversight is not merely a political function. It is a rule of law requirement.” She underlined that parliaments carry a dual responsibility: to represent democratic majorities, but also to preserve constitutional limits. Parliamentary democracy must also operate according to the principles of legality, transparency, accountability, pluralism, deliberation, and institutional restraint.