4th Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice Vilnius, Lithuania, 11-14 September 2017

4th Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice

Vilnius, Lithuania, 11-14 September 2017

The topic of the Congress, proposed by the host Court and approved by the Bureau of the World Conference, was The Rule of Law and Constitutional Justice in the Modern World. The Congress divided this theme into four sub-topics:
1. The different concepts of the rule of law; 
2. New challenges to the rule of law;
3. The law and the state;
4. The law and the individual. 

Vilnius Communiqué (English, French)

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Texts:
http://www.venice.coe.int/WebForms/pages/default.aspx?p=02_WCCJ_04_Vilnius

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"Over the past three days we have been very busy discussing different concepts of the principle of the rule of law, the challenges it faces and we have considered this principle from the perspective of the law and the state as well as from that of the law and the individual.
We have also seen that the rule of law constitutes the cornerstone of every genuine legal system. This is because this principle is intrinsically linked to democracy and the protection of human rights.
The rule of law is also a fundamental constitutional principle and, as such, inseparable from the constitution.
The constitution, in turn, is empowered and protected by constitutional courts and courts with equivalent jurisdiction, since their role is one of guardianship of the constitution. These courts ensure the implementation of national constitutions, the respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights contained therein." 

-Gianni Buquicchio, President of the Venice Commission

http://www.venice.coe.int/WCCJ/04_Vilnius/Presentations/WCCJ_4thCongress_closing_speech_Gianni_Buquicchio.pdf