Small State Constitutionalism: Introduction to the Symposium

/
Small State Constitutionalism: Introduction to the Symposium

Elisabeth PERHAM, Rosalind DIXON and Maartje De VISSER

New Symposium: Elisabeth Perham, Maartje de Visser and Rosalind Dixon introduce a new symposium on the Blog on Small State Constitutionalism. Based on an edited collection of the same name published by Hart in 2025, the symposium highlights the constitutional issues caused by or encountered in relation to small state jurisdictions.

Read More

Setting Standards on Judicial Councils: The Spanish Case before the Venice Commission A Rare Request from a Non-Political Institution

/
Setting Standards on Judicial Councils: The Spanish Case before the Venice Commission A Rare Request from a Non-Political Institution

Tania GROPPI

With Opinion CDL-AD(2025)038-e, adopted at its 144th session on 9–10 October 2025, the Venice Commission was called upon to apply international standards on the composition of judicial councils to a consolidated Western European democracy, Spain, following a request submitted by the President of the General Council of the Judiciary (hereinafter GCJ). In doing so, the Opinion ultimately reaffirms that the composition of judicial councils is no longer a matter of exclusive domestic concern grounded solely in State sovereignty, but rather constitutes an integral element of a European legal order founded on the rule of law and, as such, falls within the scrutiny of European institutions.

Read More