The Venice Commission cooperates closely with several regional or language-based groups of constitutional courts. The purpose of this cooperation is to strengthen the court members of the groups in their task of safeguarding the supremacy of their constitutions.

By virtue of cooperation agreements with the Venice Commission, courts members of these groups are able to contribute their case-law to the CODICES database and the groups are represented in the JCCJ.

Membership in these groups as well as direct participation in the work of the JCCJ entitles the courts to become members of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ). In this context, the Venice Commission also cooperates with apex courts in the Commonwealth / Common Law countries.

Useful links:

Useful links:

Useful links:

Useful link:

  • Co-operation agreement between the EACRB and the Venice Commission in English and Russian

Useful link:

Useful link:

  • Co-operation agreement between the CJCPLP and the Venice Commission in English and Portuguese

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Useful link:

Useful links:

While there is no formal agreement between the Venice Commission and Commonwealth Courts, the then President of the Venice Commission, Mr Jan E. Helgesen, extended an offer of co-operation also to apex courts in Commonwealth countries at the occasion of the 1st Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice in Cape Town on 22–24 January 2009

Therefore, the highest Courts in independent Commonwealth countries were invited to all three Congresses of the World Conference and they are entitled to membership in the World Conference according to Articles 2 and 4 of the Statute.

The Commonwealth Courts are also invited to appoint liaison officers whose task it is to contribute to the CODICES database and to exchange with other Courts via the Venice Forum.

As there is no formal group of Commonwealth Courts, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom or the Constitutional Court of Canada have participated in the Bureau of the WCCJ in respect of these Courts.

 

European Commission for
Democracy through Law