100^th Plenary Session of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Friday, 10 October 2014

Sala delle Conferenze Internazionali, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome

Speech by Herwig VAN STAA, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Dear Undersecretary of State,

Dear Vice-Minister,

Dear President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio,

Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan,

Dear Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe,

Dear friends from the Parliamentary Assembly, the European Court of Human Rights and representatives of other institutions,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank our Italian hosts for this extraordinary anniversary meeting in Rome.

One hundred plenary sessions of the “European Commission for Democracy through Law” stand for an impressive record of achievements over the last 25 years, in giving advice on constitutional matters and in setting legal standards.

The Opinions and Studies of the Venice Commission give direction to the countries of the Council of Europe family and beyond, not only in constitutional matters but also in the broader context of human rights, electoral law and democratic institutions. 

In this respect, I would like to pay tribute to the memory of Professor Antonio La Pergola who was the first president of the Venice Commission, indeed, one could say the father of this Commission which was created following the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Professor La Pergola used to say that the Venice Commission was like a reliable compass, showing the member States the direction to follow in their efforts to promote greater respect of the values of the Council of Europe.

The spirit that underpins the work of the Venice Commission is a reflection of the general philosophy of the Council of Europe. As part of the Council of Europe, we commit ourselves to becoming involved in a constructive dialogue in order to find, together, individual solutions for States party which would best fit with the values and principles of the Organisation. This was the credo of Professor La Pergola for more than 15 years.

It  was challenging indeed to ensure the continuity and maintain the same constructive spirit and to improve – year after year – the quality of its work, which is the basis of this Commission’s excellent reputation. Today it brings together not only States of the European continent but also states from Asia, Latin America, USA, and Africa.

So, a challenge superbly met,  and  I would like to congratulate Mr Gianni Buquicchio and his team, who have been so successful in pursuing this difficult task, supported now by 60 States party. 

 

The Venice Commission is an indispensable partner to Constitutional Courts, the European Court of Human Rights and other Council of Europe bodies.

Most national constitutions and legislations contain provisions on local self-government and that this why the Congress has the privilege to be part of this partnership and can look back on many years of fruitful co-operation. We think that it is time for our democracies to incorporate the local and regional dimension in our constitutions. This will better guarantee what is now considered to be an essential component of any democracy, and a trademark for democracy in Europe as is amply demonstrated by the ratification of the European Charter on Local Self-government by the 47 member States of the Council of Europe.

It is in this spirit that the Congress is fully determined to maintain and strengthen its co-operation with the Venice Commission in the future.  Based on its expertise in the field of local and regional democracy, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities stands ready to contribute – in a pragmatic and problem-oriented manner - to the underpinning of law reform projects throughout Europe.

I can assure you that the Congress is ready to further shape its profile in this respect and provide legal advice with regard to those parts of international legislations which have a bearing on the core activities of our institution – the assessment of the quality of local and regional democracy in Europe, awareness raising for recurring issues identified during monitoring and election observation missions and establishment of a dialogue with Council of Europe member states, leading to concrete action in addressing existing problems.

We are very proud to contribute to your work in our field of activity.

President Bucchiquio, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Venice Commission in 2010, you said that, and  I quote you, “the challenge today is to cement the basis of the democratic future of Europe and beyond by firmly rooting in our societies the values of the European constitutional heritage that we will continue to consolidate and develop”.

You are absolutely right, dear President, and this is particularly crucial in the harsh times that some countries have had to face over the last months. But let me tell you Mr Bucchiquio, that your long-standing commitment, your experience and all the energy that YOU put into this internationally recognised Commission, constitute, together with the support and the commitment of the member States,  the cement on which the success of this Commission is built, and we would like to thank you for this.

I wish you all an interesting exchange of views during the 100^th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission!

Thank you for your attention