Constitutional courts in the European Union

Duration 2018–2019

Institute Institute for European and International Law

Department Department of Public Law and Tax Law

Katharina Struth, Markus Vasek

Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg, Venice Commission “Democracy through Law”

Independent and effective constitutional courts define constitutional democracy in most European countries today. They uphold the fundamental rights of the individual and oversee the separation of powers, thus protecting democracy and the rule of law in equal measure. The independence and effectiveness of these constitutional courts is based on underlying legal frameworks, and certain societal framework conditions also ensure that the constitutional courts’ legitimacy is widely accepted. Constitutional courts have always been vulnerable to multiple risks from political actors, which have only increased in recent times. There have been concerning developments in some European countries that could potentially weaken constitutional jurisdiction and have serious consequences for the rule of law as a whole.

The continued existence and independence of constitutional courts is largely dependent on their acceptance in political and social life.

The research set out to analyze the conditions under which the constitutional courts in the European Union function. The historical, institutional, and procedural aspects of constitutional jurisdiction in European countries were examined along with the role of each respective constitutional court in the national system. The research showed that safeguarding the institution of constitutional jurisdiction is not dependent on legal factors alone; it is also contingent on acceptance in political and social life. Political and social actors must understand and be consistently aware of the value of constitutional jurisdiction and the constitutional courts in maintaining the rule of law. So jurists in general and legal scholars in particular must make every effort to ensure that the activities of the constitutional courts are easy for the general public to understand. Clarifying the existing legal framework is part of this process, but not enough on its own.

The insights on the rule of law have been incorporated into expert opinions and recommendations by the European Commission and publicly discussed in various EU countries.

The research findings emphasized the importance of social and political acceptance on the resilience of the constitutional courts, and were cited in a number of reports (e.g. expert opinions) drafted by the Venice Commission. Christoph Grabenwarter is the Austrian member and former vice-president of the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe tasked with advising states on constitutional law. The Commission is dedicated to safeguarding and strengthening constitutional standards in Europe and worldwide. The Commission’s reports and expert opinions primarily focused on challenges to and crises in constitutional jurisdiction in various European countries, where they were picked up by the national media and had a considerable influence on public discourse. Furthermore, the European Commission has frequently cited and included the expert opinions in

its recommendations on constitutional jurisdiction. The European Commission referenced the Venice Commission’s expert opinions multiple times when issuing its recommendations on the rule of law regarding constitutional jurisdiction in Poland. The recommendations prompted the Polish government to enter into discourse with the members of the Venice Commission, a clear indication that even states that reject such recommendations regard them as significant in the debate around the concept of the rule of law. The research into independent and effective constitutional courts has contributed to strengthening important state institutions and thus addresses SDG 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.” Strengthening the constitution supports, among other things, the protection of minority rights and thus also contributes to SDG 10 “Reduced Inequalities.”

Analysis of the conditions under which the constitutional courts function

Insights about the political and social factors that impact the acceptance of constitutional courts

Consideration of the importance of these factors by the European Commission and recommendations on the rule of law