“I regret to learn of the President of the United States of America’s decision to initiate the procedure to withdraw from the European Commission for Democracy through Law”, said Marta Cartabia, President of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, in a press release published on Friday 9 January, the day after Donald Trump signed an executive order for the US withdrawal from 66 international organisations (see EUROPE 13782/9).
The European Commission for Democracy through Law, better known as the Venice Commission, is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters. With 61 members (46 Council of Europe member states and 15 other countries), it provides legal advice to its member states and, in particular, assists those wanting to bring their legal and institutional structures into line with European and international standards in the fields of democracy, human rights and the Rule of law.
As a full member of the Venice Commission since 2013, after having been an observer state since 1991, the United States has contributed to advancing “democracy through law”, Marta Cartabia recalled. In her view, “losing the United States’ membership would deprive the Commission of a valued perspective and experience”.
“The Venice Commission remains open to resume working with the United States in support of shared values of democracy, human rights, and the Rule of law”, said its President. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)