The European Commission for Democracy through Law

- the Venice Commission of

the Council of Europe

59 Member States

The Venice CommissionThe Venice Commission

in a nutshell:in a nutshell:

independent consultative body CoE;

constitutional law;

legal opinions and reports & studies;

May 1990 – partial agreement by May 1990 – partial agreement by 18 member states18 member states

Jan. 2002- all CoE member states Jan. 2002- all CoE member states + enlarged agreement + enlarged agreement

May 2014 -May 2014 -

May 1990 – partial agreement by May 1990 – partial agreement by 18 member states18 member states

Jan. 2002- all CoE member states Jan. 2002- all CoE member states + enlarged agreement + enlarged agreement

May 2014 -May 2014 - 59 Member states 6 observers 2 participating IOs: EU and

OSCE 2 special co-operation status 1 associate member

Individual membersIndividual members:

-Member and substitute member;

-appointed by the member states for 4 years (renewable mandate);

-act in individual capacity, independently;

-eminent lawyers specialised in public or international law: professors, judges , MPs;

-President – G. Buquicchio (Italy)

Types of activities Areas of action

Opinions Functioning of the democratic institutions

Studies & Reports Protection of fundamental rights

Conferences Elections, referendums and political parties

Publications Cooperation with constitutional courts, ordinary courts and mediators

Training

Venice Commission Venice Commission activities activities

Who can refer a request to the Who can refer a request to the Commission?Commission?

Member states:

•Parliaments

Council of Europe:

•SG

International organisations:

•EU

• Governments • CM • OSCE/ ODIHR

• Courts • PACE • Other IOs

• Ombudspersons

Preparation of an opinionPreparation of an opinion

Recent examples of Recent examples of opinions :opinions :

Constitutional reforms in Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Romania, Ukraine and Tunisia;

Constitutional amendments in Belgium, Finland, Hungary;

Russia: laws on political parties, on freedom of assembly, on election to parliament, on FSB; defamation issues in Azerbaijan and Italy;

judiciary in BiH, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine.

Examples of reports and Examples of reports and studies:studies:

Code of good practice in electoral matters; Parliamentary immunities; Independence of judiciary: judges and prosecutors; Financing and dissolution of political parties;

Update of Geneva conventions, CIA rendition flights; Blasphemy, religious insult and incitement to religious hatred.

Venice Commission SecretariatVenice Commission Secretariat

Democratic Institutions and Fundamental Rights

Elections, Referendums and Political Parties

Constitutional and Ordinary Justice

Neighbourhood Co-operation

Staff: 26 people (including 13 lawyers) Budget: 4 million € (2014) 4 divisions:

More information :More information :

www.venice.coe.int

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