Back Venice Commission provides important opinion on amendments in the Constitution and Electoral Code in Albania, under Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism

Venice Commission provides important opinion on amendments in the Constitution and Electoral Code in Albania, under Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism

The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and the OSCE Office for Democratic institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) issued a joint opinion about the adoption of the amendments to Albania’s Constitution of 30 July 2020 and to the country’s Electoral Code of 5 October 2020.

The opinion, prepared under the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM),  which is a part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022“, expresses concern about the hasty adoption of the amendments to Albania’s Constitution of 30 July 2020 and to the country’s Electoral Code of 5 October 2020, as well as the lack of wide consultations providing adequate timeframe among political stakeholders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The opinion, requested by Albanian President Ilir Meta and prepared after extensive online consultations with a wide range of political figures and NGOs, is solely focused on the conformity of the amendments with international standards and, thus, should not be considered as a comprehensive review of the country’s electoral framework. The Venice Commission and ODIHR stand ready to assist the Albanian authorities, especially to facilitate implementation of the revised Electoral Code.

In its opinion, the Venice Commission and ODIHR urge the Albanian political forces to ensure the "normal democratic functioning of the institutions" and once again stress the need for restoring the work of the Constitutional Court.

The opinion was prepared under the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism in the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, implemented by the Council of Europe.

Albania 12 December 2020
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What is the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism?

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM) provides expertise within the Council of Europe system to respond to requests for legislative expertise and policy advice on strengthening justice, fighting economic crime and combating discrimination, as well as freedom of expression and the media, and constitutional issues falling within the mandate of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (known as the Venice Commission). This is done in full respect of the independence and functioning specificities of the Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms and provides a key support to accession processes to the EU. If there are Horizontal Facility actions in the field of interest in respective Beneficiary, the request for an expert opinion can be accommodated directly by those actions.

 

Who can make a request for an expert opinion under the ECM?

Ministers (and other members of the government), the speaker of parliament, heads of parliamentary committees, Ombudsperson institutions or independent state institutions of the Beneficiary concerned (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye) can make a request for an expert opinion under the ECM.

Furthermore, specifically for issues which fall within the area of competence of the Venice Commission, the European Union as well as Council of Europe organs (i.e. the Secretary General, Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities) can also submit requests for ECM assistance.

In addition, requests for amicus curiae briefs by the Venice Commission can also be made by constitutional courts.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.