1. The European Commission for
Democracy through Law
-
the Venice Commission of
the Council of Europe

2. 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;

3. May 1990 – partial agreement byMay 1990 – partial agreement by
18 member states18 member states
Jan. 2002- all CoE member statesJan. 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

4. 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)

5. 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 activitiesVenice Commission activities

6. Who can refer a request to theWho 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

7. Preparation of an opinionPreparation of an opinion

8. Recent examples of opinions :Recent examples of 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,

9. Examples of reports and studies:Examples of reports and 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.

10. Venice 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:

11. More information :More information :
www.venice.coe.int
CODICES database
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