Introduction to new IACL Blog series: Spotlight on the Venice Commission

Helle Krunke & Angelika Nußberger

President of the IACL & Chair of the IACL Commission on the Cooperation with the Venice Commission

The International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL) and the Venice Commission have a long-standing cooperation. They have a lot in common, especially the strong focus on democracy, rule of law, and human rights, within and beyond Europe. The IACL has observer status in the Venice Commission, and the Venice Commission has observer status in the Executive Commission of the IACL. While the Venice Commission focuses more on practical work, issuing opinions on constitutional amendments and new laws, the IACL brings together constitutionalists from all continents and contributes to a better understanding of the similarities and differences of legal systems worldwide; thus, their work is complementary and mutually inspiring. 

That is why the IACL and the Venice Commission have already organized several conferences together. The next joint conference with the topic “Lessons Learned and Learning Lessons. The Venice Commission’s Experience in Elaborating Transnationally Valid Constitutional Standards” will be held in Venice on 12 March 2025.

In light of the valued cooperation between the IACL and the Venice Commission, the IACL Commission on the Cooperation between the IACL and the Venice Commission, will introduce a new IACL Blog series to discuss important opinions of the Venice Commission.

The very first blog post in the new series is on Opinion No. 1181/2024 on the draft law amending the law on the national council of the judiciary in Poland. It is written by Francesco Biagi and entitled “Constitutional Repair in Poland: The Venice Commission’s Opinion on the Draft Law Amending the Law on the National Council of the Judiciary”. We hope to contribute to the academic debates of the opinions of the Venice Commission, and to draw attention to the work of the Venice Commission within and outside Europe.