148th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission
During its 148th Plenary Session (9-10 October 2026), the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe will have on its agenda six opinions in respect of four countries (Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro and Poland), four urgent opinions in respect of four countries (Greece, Malta, Serbia...
88th meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections
The 88th meeting of the Council for Democratic Elections will be held on 8 October 2026 in Venice, Italy. The Council for Democratic Elections is the only tripartite body of the Council of Europe, comprising members of the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local...
The Constitutional Court of Montenegro hosted a high level International Conference “On the Constitution, State and Democracy“, on the occasion of the 20 years of the Constitution of Montenegro, which took place from 1st to 4 October 2026, in Tivat
Mr Christoph Grabenwarter, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Austria, Mr Martin Kuijer, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Netherlands, and Ms Simona Granata-Menghini, Director/Secretary of the Venice Commission, took part in the Conference. Mr Grabenwarter and Ms...
The Rule of Law – User’s Guide brochure reaches new audiences
The many language versions of the Rule of Law - User’s Guide brochure were presented at the Annual Conference of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) in Málaga in September and are being made available to visitors at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which opens today.
Ukraine - Request for an Opinion
By letter dated 14 September 2026, Mr Oleksandr Petryshyn, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe on safeguarding the continuity and effective functioning of the Constitutional Court in the context of unfilled...
The London Conference on International Law (4th edition) took place on 1-2 October 2026
Mr Tim Otty, Vice President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and member in respect of the United Kingdom, participated in the 4th edition of the London Conference on International Law Regional Conference. He intervened during the plenary session on the “Global Rule of Law”,...
Presentation of the Updated Rule of Law Checklist to the European Parliament
Mr Iain Cameron, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Sweden, participated in a meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) of the European Parliament. Mr Iain Cameron presented the Updated Rule of Law Checklist and took part in the subsequent exchange of views with members of the...
Poland - Forthcoming opinion - Online meetings
On 15 and 17 September 2026, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation for the Opinion on the powers of the President in the context of the oath-taking of the judges of the Constitutional Tribunal and of other judicial appointments. This opinion was...
Greece - Urgent Opinion issued
By letter of 29 June 2026, Ms Elvira Kovács, Chairperson of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) requested an urgent opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe on the 2026 legislative...
Hungary – Request for an opinion
By letter dated 23 September 2026, Ms Márta Görög, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Hungary, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary and three questions concerning the future Constitution and the procedure for its adoption....
Ukraine – Urgent Joint Opinion issued
By letter dated 10 July 2026, Mr Taras Kachka, the then Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, requested an urgent opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law “On Amendments to the Law ‘On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges’ and certain other laws...
International Ombudsman Institute - request concerning the Venice Principles
Ms Nadine Mailloux, President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), and Mr Reinier van Zutphen, European Regional President of the IOI, have requested the Venice Commission to provide clarification on the interpretation of Principles 6,7, 10 and 13 of the Principles on the Protection...
Participation of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in the first meeting of the Drafting group on the protection of the right to vote and to stand for election under the ECHR (CDDH-VOTE)
Ms Renata Deskoska, Vice-President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and member in respect of North Macedonia, participated in the first meeting of the Drafting group on the protection of the right to vote and to stand for election under the ECHR (CDDH-VOTE). The meeting took...
Republic of Moldova - Forthcoming opinion - Online meetings
On 17-18 September 2026, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation for the Opinion on the draft Law on the Status, Conduct, and Ethics of Members of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. This opinion was requested by Mr Igor Grosu, the President of the...
Bulgaria – Request for an Opinion
By letter dated 20 August 2026, Mr Nikolay Naydenov, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe on voting rights of persons serving a prison sentence and persons under guardianship. The draft opinion is scheduled for...
Greece – Forthcoming Urgent Opinion – Online meetings and country visit
On 31 August 2026 and 9-10 September 2026, a delegation of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe held online meetings and conducted a visit to Athens, Greece in the framework of the preparation of the Urgent Opinion on 2026 amendments to the legislation on Asylum and Immigration...
Republic of Moldova - Request for an Opinion
By letter dated 18 August 2026, Mr Igor Grosu, the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft Law No. 448 of 6 December 2023 on the Status, Conduct and Ethics of Members of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The draft...
Greece - Request for an urgent opinion
By letter dated 29 June 2026, Ms Elvira Kovács, Chairperson of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States (Monitoring Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, requested an urgent opinion of the Venice Commission of the Council of...
“The Venice Commission and Judicial Independence in Peru” – academic event on 5 August
Mr Rafael Bustos Gisbert, Substitute member of the Venice Commission in respect of Spain, took part in the academic event “The Venice Commission and Judicial Independence in Peru”, organised by the Judicial Branch of Peru on 5 August in Lima, Peru, and online, to commemorate the Day of the Judge....
European Commission for
Democracy through Law
