European Court of Human Rights - Request for an amicus curiae brief
By letter dated 4 June 2025, the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe requested an urgent amicus curiae brief of the Venice Commission in Grande Oriente d’Italia v. Italy. The urgent amicus curiae brief will be submitted for endorsement at the 144th plenary session of the...
Participation of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in the High-Level Dialogue IV “Good democratic governance in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and the way forward in post-war period”
The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe took part in the High-Level Dialogue IV “Good democratic governance in Ukraine: achievements, challenges and the way forward in post-war period”, which took place on 3 and 4 July 2025, in Lviv, Ukraine. The event brought together Ukrainian key...
HUNGARY - Request for an opinion from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
By letter dated 26 May 2025, Ms Catia Polidori, Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Parliamentary Assembly, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the Fifteenth Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary. The draft opinion is scheduled for discussion...
Recognition award from the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
On 25 April 2025, the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina offered a recognition award to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for providing technical assistance in its activities for the implementation of elections. "The award is given as a token of gratitude for...
Ukraine – Request for an Opinion
By letter dated 29 May 2025, Mr Hryhorii Usyk, Chairman of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine, requested an Opinion from the Venice Commission on Amendments to the Law "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges" and Certain Legislative Acts. The draft opinion is scheduled for discussion and...
Participation in a Round table discussion on the European Democracy Shield with Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
On 24 June 2025, Ms Simona Granata-Menghini, Secretary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, participated in a Round table discussion on the European Democracy Shield with Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.
Kosovo – post-election workshop
Following the elections to the Assembly of Kosovo held on 9 February 2025, the Venice Commission and the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kosovo (CEC) organised a post-election workshop for members of the CEC, of the CEC Secretariat and the Office for Registration, Certification and...
Participation of the Venice Commission in the 27th Plenary Meeting of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI)
Mr Iain Cameron, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Sweden, participated online in the 27th Plenary Meeting of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) of the Council of Europe, which took place in Strasbourg, France, on 18-20 June 2025. Mr Cameron presented the...
Participation of the Venice Commission in a webinar on “Ombudsperson institutions and the Rule of Law: Contributions from the Venice Principles”
Representatives of the Venice Commission Secretariat participated in a webinar on “Ombudsperson institutions and the Rule of Law: Contributions from the Venice Principles”, organised by the Iberoamerican Federation of Ombudsperson in cooperation with the Raonador del Ciutadà (Ombudsman of...
143rd plenary session of the Venice Commission
During its 143rd Plenary Session, the Venice Commission had on its agenda, in particular, 12 opinions concerning 8 countries (Chile, France, Haiti, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia).
Venice Commission unveils the “User’s guide to the Rule of Law” to mark its 35th anniversary
The rule of law is a fundamental pillar of the Council of Europe, alongside democracy and human rights. Through original illustrations and accessible text, the new User’s Guide to the Rule of Law explains how legality, legal certainty, the prevention of abuse of power, equality before the law,...
83rd meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections
The 83rd meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections was held online, on 6 June 2025. During this meeting, the Council discussed in particular the following points: Election of a Vice-Chair of the Council of Democratic Elections of the Council of Europe on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly...
Superior Courts Network’s ten years anniversary
The Superior Courts Network, set up by the European Court of Human Rights marked its first ten years of activity on 5 and 6 June 2025 in Strasbourg. Ms Marta Cartabia, Vice President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, featured a key-note speech in the opening session on 5 June.
Octopus Conference 2025 – Venice Commission addresses prevention and responses to cyber interference with democracy
On 5 June 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe participated in the Octopus Conference, during a session devoted to “Cyber Interference with Democracy.” The session addressed how digital threats, such as cyberattacks and information operations, can undermine...
Presentation of the 2024 Annual Report of the Venice Commission and Opening of the Exhibition “A user’s guide to the Rule of Law”
On Wednesday 4 June, Ms Claire Bazy Malaurie, President of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), presented the 2024 Annual Report of the Commission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This report highlights the main activities carried out in...
Poland – 2nd round of the presidential election – legal assistance to the PACE election observation mission
Representatives of the Venice Commission provided legal support to the election observation delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at the occasion of the second round of the presidential election of 1 June 2025 in Poland. The delegation participated in briefings...
Pre-electoral training: Peculiarities of examination and settlement of electoral disputes ahead of the Parliamentary elections of the Republic of Moldova
The Venice Commission and the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, together with the Central Election Commission, the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training, and the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, co-organised a training on “Peculiarities of examination and...
HAITI - Online meeting
On 28 May 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe held an online meeting with representatives of the Provisional Electoral Council of Haiti in preparation for the Opinion on the draft referendum decree. This opinion was requested by the President of the Provisional...
Pre-electoral workshop ahead of the Parliamentary elections of the Republic of Moldova
The Venice Commission, the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, and the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova co-organised a pre-electoral workshop ahead of the parliamentary elections of the Republic of Moldova. The workshop took place on 28 May 2025 in Chișinău. The event...
Republic of Moldova – Participation in International Conference on Contemporary Challenges Facing European Constitutional Courts
Mr Eirik Holmøyvik, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Norway, took part in the International Conference “Contemporary Challenges in the Activity of European Constitutional Courts”, held in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova. Mr...
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