An international Symposium entitled “Constitutional Courts: Bridges of Law and Dynamics of Dialogue” was held on 29 and 30 June 2026 in Tetouan, Morocco, bringing together renowned experts, members of constitutional courts, academics and judges from Morocco, France, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Egypt. The event, co-organised by the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, focused on the evolving role of constitutional justice in the face of global transformations.

The Symposium began with an opening lecture by Professor Nadia Bernoussi, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Morocco, on the challenges facing constitutional courts: “The guardian of the law between a hammer and a chisel: the independence of the judiciary put to the test by politics”. Her thought-provoking remarks highlighted the delicate daily balance between fidelity to law and political pressures, emphasising that judicial independence is never definitively secured.

Key speakers included Claire Bazy-Malaurie, former member of the French Constitutional Council and former President of the Venice Commission, as well as Cesare Pinelli, substitute member of the Venice Commission in respect of Italy. Bazy-Malaurie discussed the Updated Rule of Law Checklist developed by the Venice Commission and emphasized their importance as international benchmarks for assessing constitutional systems, while Pinelli addressed the growing importance of transnational networks and constitutional dialogue, and their impact on the circulation and evolution of legal norms.

The discussions explored the growing responsibility of constitutional courts, not only in reviewing legal norms but also in preserving institutional stability, protecting freedoms and strengthening democracy. Other experts referred to constitutional review as an essential safeguard enabling the majority to exercise its power within constitutional limits and examined the foundations of the Rule of Law and the various experiences of judicial dialogue between countries, the role and public visibility of constitutional judges, and the balance between discretion and transparency, as well as the universal values and rights protected by constitutional justice.

A highlight of the Symposium was the presentation of the recently Updated Rule of Law Checklist in Arabic, and the launch of a travelling exhibition on the Rule of Law at the University of Tetouan — marking two important milestones in the promotion of constitutional values across languages and regions.

Reflecting the richness of the intellectual exchanges, the Symposium reaffirmed a shared ambition: to strengthen the Rule of Law, protect human rights, consolidate constitutional democracy and preserve the independence of judges.