The project supported the Constitutional Court of Kosovo* in organising an international conference to mark its 17th anniversary, under the title “The Role of Constitutional Courts in Safeguarding Democracy and the Democratic Functioning of Institutions.” The event brought together presidents and judges of constitutional and supreme courts from across Europe, leading constitutional law experts, representatives of the executive and legislative branches, and members of the legal and academic communities to discuss the contribution of constitutional justice to democratic governance and the protection of fundamental rights.
Opening the conference, Nexhmi Rexhepi, President of the Constitutional Court [1]of Kosovo*, welcomed the participants and underlined the importance of international judicial co-operation and the exchange of experience among constitutional courts. He also highlighted the Court’s membership in the European Constitutional Courts Network and the Association of Francophone Constitutional Courts as important milestones in strengthening its engagement with European and international judicial institutions.
In her address, Justina Shiroka-Pula, President of Kosovo*, emphasised the Constitutional Court’s essential role in safeguarding the democratic order, the separation of powers, the rule of law and fundamental rights. The keynote address was delivered by Stephan Harbarth, President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, who examined the challenges facing constitutional courts amid evolving geopolitical tensions and democratic backsliding.
The conference featured two thematic panels addressing key aspects of constitutional justice in contemporary democracies.
The first panel, “International Standards and Constitutional Interpretation,” examined the role of international and European legal standards in constitutional adjudication, including the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, international human rights instruments and the work of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission). Discussions highlighted the importance of judicial dialogue, comparative legal practice and international co-operation in promoting consistent interpretation and application of human rights standards.
The second panel, “Constitutional Courts, Democracy and the Rule of Law,” explored how constitutional courts can exercise their authority as final interpreters of the Constitution while maintaining democratic legitimacy. Participants discussed the role of constitutional review in protecting democratic values, upholding the rule of law and maintaining an appropriate balance of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Representatives of constitutional courts from Albania, Austria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Türkiye, alongside other distinguished legal and academic experts, contributed to the exchange of perspectives and experiences. Their participation strengthened opportunities for professional dialogue on shared challenges and the responsibilities of constitutional courts in protecting democratic institutions and fundamental rights.
By supporting this conference, the project contributed to strengthening judicial dialogue and international co-operation, while reaffirming the importance of independent and effective constitutional justice as a cornerstone of democracy, the rule of law and human rights protection.