The Venice Commission and Rule of Law Backsliding in Turkey, Poland and Hungary

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Emre Turkut
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Judicial Independence ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Member States ◽  
Political Pluralism ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
Venice Commission

Abstract How did the Council of Europe cope with its member states that engaged in rule of law backsliding? This article analyses the responses of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s expert body on constitutional matters, to Turkey, Hungary, and Poland as their governments eliminated key checks and balances on their power, curtailed judicial independence, and undermined political pluralism and civil society. It finds that the Venice Commission managed to address a set of particularly vital issues that get to the heart to rule of law backsliding in these countries. Despite the breadth of the Venice Commission’s forthright involvement, these case studies display the limitations on the part of other Council of Europe bodies in forming a coordinated approach and response to rule of law backsliding.

scholarly journals The Conflict between the Principles of the National Identity of Member States and Values of European Union Such as Rule of Law, Respect for Human Rights and Liberal Democracy – Case Study of Hungary

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-173
Author(s):  
Kumush Suyunova
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Executive Power ◽  
Political Equality ◽  
Member States ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
Independent Judiciary ◽  
European Values ◽  
The Eu

Summary Human rights are indivisible. The EU holds resolute tone against the challenges of universal human rights. As an adequate method of governance the EU acknowledges the rule of law that encompasses transparent and reliable legal system, an independent judiciary, prevention of arbitrary executive power; legal egalitarianism and respect for rights and freedoms of individuals. The concept of democracy determines the values behind the governance of a country. Thus, the EU’s vision of democracy comprises several principles: political equality, representative and participative democracy, which include fair elections, separation of power, effective checks and balances. However, despite the EU’s efforts to promote human rights, rule of law and democracy, some member States are still lagging behind the overall positive achievement. Hungary, who pick up illiberal democracy over established European values, has become the focus of attention.

The Impact of covid-19 Measures on the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans and the Increase of Authoritarianism

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Andi Hoxhaj ◽  
Fabian Zhilla
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
State Capture ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Abstract This article offers a comparative analysis of the covid-19 legal measures and model of governance adopted in the Western Balkans countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo) and its impact on the state of the rule of law, and ability of parliament and civil society to scrutinise government decisions. The article assesses the governments’ approaches to introducing and enforcing covid-19 legal measures, and shows examples of how covid-19 has exposed more openly the weaknesses in the existing system of checks and balances in the Western Balkans. The article offers new insights into how covid-19 presented a new opportunity for leaders in the Western Balkans to implement further their authoritarian model of governance in undermining the rule of law. This article offers suggestions on how the EU could respond, through its accession conditionality instruments and civil society, to redirect this trend towards more state capture.

The Rule of Law in Crisis? – Some Observations from the Perspective of the Venice Commission

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-551
Author(s):  
Martin Kuijer
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Advisory Body ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
The Press ◽  
Constitutional Justice ◽  
Legislative Amendments ◽  
The Government ◽  
Venice Commission

The European Commission for Democracy through Law - better known as the Venice Commission - is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters. In this article, the existence of serious threats to the rule of law will be elaborated on. There are various methods in order to conduct such an exercise. This contribution is limited to the overarching trend to use legislative amendments to repress those who disagree with government policies, those who could potentially disagree with the government line, or those who are otherwise considered to be an ‘opponent’ to the regime. When examining those threats, a distinction will be made between those measures which target the judiciary (including constitutional justice), the press, and civil society. Reference will be made to opinions adopted by the Venice Commission over the last five years (in a non-exhaustive manner). Because of this angle (opinions, statements and studies of the Venice Commission), this article does not provide an exhaustive picture of the ‘Rule of Law’ landscape, nor is that the intention of this article. Some thoughts as to the underlying explanations for such a ‘Rule of Law crisis’ will be discussed. In the concluding part, some more personal comments will be made how a body such as the Venice Commission can respond to the before-mentioned threats to the Rule of Law.

scholarly journals The Council of Europe’s Responses to the Decay of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protections: A Comparative Appraisal

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Başak Çalı ◽  
Esra Demir-Gürsel
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Political Context ◽  
Secretary General ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
European Court ◽  
Institutional Features ◽  
Venice Commission

Abstract This article introduces the Special Issue on ‘The Responses of the Council of Europe to the Decay of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protections’. The Council of Europe (CoE), a unique international organisation with its commitment to protect and promote human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, has been severely tested by the spread and consolidation of trends posing systemic threats to its foundational goals. The authors of this Special Issue assess how the European Court of Human Rights, the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers, and the office of the Secretary General have addressed systemic threats to the foundational principles of the organisation in the last decade. The Special Issue finds that the respective legal-institutional features and capacities of the CoE organs as well as the constraining influence of the broader political context in Europe on them vary significantly, hampering the CoE’s ability to produce timely, consistent, and co-ordinated responses against systemic threats.

scholarly journals Theoretical Approaches of the European Commission for Democracy Through Law (the Venice Commission) to the Assessment of Anti-Terrorism Legislation: international Legal Discourse and Implementation Problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-422
Author(s):  
Anna Kashirkina ◽  
Andrey Morozov
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
European Commission ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Member States ◽  
Counter Terrorism ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Legislative Regulation ◽  
Venice Commission ◽  
Law Regulation

The topic of the article is highly relevant due to the importance of basing the legislative regulation of counter-terrorism activities on international treaties in this sphere. Besides, the legislative regulation of counteracting terrorism should be developed in accordance with the current international law acts and should take into account international obligations that they entail. The authors believe that the improvement of counter-terrorism legislation is facilitated by the work of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission), which conducts an expert evaluation of the national legislations of member states. The goal of this research is to analyze the current international law regulation in the sphere of counteracting terrorism and in identifying the specifics of its application by the Venice Commission in its assessment of national counter-terrorism legislations. The authors examine some issues connected with the work of the Venice Commission on preparing conclusions and recommendations that contain its assessment of the counter-terrorism legislation of a number of countries (the Republic of Moldova, the French Republic). They note the specifics of the work of the Venice Commission as a special auxiliary body of the Council of Europe that analyzes and assesses the legislative acts of member states based on the poly-functional guidelines of the Council of Europe. While assessing national legislations, the Venice Commission uses international law acts that contain, among other things, universally recognized principles and norms of international law, so the authors of the article show the significance of the international law regulation of counteracting terrorism through international treaties both between different countries and under the aegis of international organizations and integration unions; they also identify the problems connected with their implementation in national legislations. Based on the conducted research, the authors come to the following conclusions: the legislative regulation of counteracting terrorism should be amended with strict observance of the universally recognized principles and norms of international law incorporated, among other things, in international treaties; it is necessary to develop the international law regulation in the sphere of counteracting terrorism while taking into account new challenges and threats brought about by globalization and use the potential of international law instruments; international bodies play an important part in improving national counter-terrorism legislations, specifically, the Venice Commission, which, through its expert work, contributes to the development of legislation based on international legal acts.

Thesis and antithesis: To check or not to check the Judiciary

2018 ◽  
pp. 157-198
Author(s):  
Cristina E. Parau
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Judicial Independence ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Network Community ◽  
Constitutional Meaning

This chapter analyses Network Community discourses in order to better expose the causal role of its hegemonic norms. Key assumptions held by the Community about the qualities of their agenda are brought to light. Classical Anglo-Saxon conceptions of the separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial independence, and the rule of law, the utility of which has stood the test of time, are compared to the theory and practice of the Network Community’s Judiciary institutional design Template. The Network conceives of the separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial independence, and the rule of law as emanating from the autonomy and supremacy of a Judiciary so empowered as invariably to subordinate all other contestants in case of conflict with itself over constitutional meaning. The chapter ends with a systematic catalogue and critical examination of those few acts of state which the Network Community conceive as legitimate checks and balances on their Judiciary design.

scholarly journals Time for the Gloves to Come Off?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Alice Donald ◽  
Anne-Katrin Speck
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Member States ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Monitoring Procedure ◽  
To Come

Abstract The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has limited tools to respond to rule of law backsliding by member states. Sanctions have never been used for this purpose, and the Assembly’s monitoring procedure—the most significant tool of scrutiny—presents a mixed picture. This article focuses on four states exhibiting severe rule of law backsliding: Hungary, which has evaded the procedure; Poland, which was placed under monitoring in 2020; Turkey, which in 2017 became the first state to have monitoring reopened; and Azerbaijan, which has been under monitoring since 2001. Through a first-ever analysis of debates, voting patterns, and tactics used in the Assembly, the article elucidates how proponents and opponents of monitoring have framed their arguments in the battleground of ideas about democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It concludes that the Assembly should fundamentally reappraise monitoring—and the possible use of sanctions—to meet the severity of the challenge.

scholarly journals ARTICLE 7 PROCESS AND DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING OF HUNGARY AND POLAND. DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-85
Author(s):  
Łukasz ZAMĘCKI ◽  
Viktor GLIED
Keyword(s):  
Rule Of Law ◽  
The Political ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
History Of ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Eu

This paper examines developments in Poland following the 2015 elections and in Hungary since 2010, which included the gradual destruction of democratic institutions, challenges to the rule of law, as well as to the system of checks and balances. The authors consider the Ziblatt–Levitsky model (2018) as a meaningful framework for the analysis of the way in which the power structure was reshaped and have based their research on the classification set out in this model. Our objective is to present the political changes that took place in the two Central-Eastern-European countries during the last decade that resulted in the process under Article 7 being used for the first time in the history of the EU. The paper conclusion is that the path of de-democratization of Hungary and Poland is seen from the perspective of the EU and Council of Europe, as similar one. In actions taken toward both countries, the EU concerns mostly the principle of the rule of law.

scholarly journals The legal nature of soft law acts of the Council of Europe

2021 ◽  
pp. 397-402
Author(s):  
H.Yu. Yamelska
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Legal Systems ◽  
Council Of Europe ◽  
Member States ◽  
Legal Ideology ◽  
Venice Commission ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

The article examines the effectiveness of soft law as a regulator of legal relations between the member states of the Council of Europe. Existing approaches to the definition of soft law are analyzed.Author proposes to separate from the traditional conception of international law as a system of universally binding norms developed by states, taking into account postmodern trends in the transformation of national legal systems. Soft law is recognized as a real form of modern international law that has legal consequences. The article appoints the sources that make up the soft law within the legal system of the Council of Europe.The influence of soft law acts of the Council of Europe bodies on the legislation of Ukraine is investigated. Pros-pects for the development of soft law in the research area are determined.The role of “soft law” acts is presented on the example of the acts of the Venice Commission (European Com-mission for Strengthening Democracy through Law) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which are specialized agencies of the Council of Europe.Examples of the impact of soft law acts of the Council of Europe on the national legal systems of the partici-pating countries are analyzed. Their axiological influence on the democratization of national legal systems and the formation of human-centered legal ideology in Europe has been determined. The article determines the orientation of the parliaments and governments of the member states of the Council of Europe on the acts of soft law of its bodies in the legislation. The place of soft law acts of the bodies of the Council of Europe in the system of sources of international and national law is considered through the prism of the sociological school of law.

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