On this day in 2014, Kosova became a member of the Venice Commission Kosova became the 60th member of the Venice Commission, formally known as the Enlarged Agreement establishing the European Commission for Democracy through Law, under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This membership came to fruition following Kosova’s request, which was deliberated at the 1202nd meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Venice Commission itself underscored that Kosova’s inclusion does not affect the positions of individual Council of Europe member states regarding Kosova’s status.

Initially, Kosova was represented by Enver Hasani, then President of the Constitutional Court, and Arta Rama, a judge of the Constitutional Court, as substitute member. Presently, the representation has been passed to Qerim Qerimi, a law professor at the University of Prishtina, and Kushtrim Istrefi, an assistant professor specializing in Human Rights Law and Public International Law at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) at Utrecht University, indicating a continuing commitment to international legal standards and practices.

Since its membership, the Venice Commission has issued 12 opinions on a variety of legal and constitutional matters related to Kosova. Serving as the constitutional advisory body of the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission provides essential legal advice to its member states, aiming to bring their legal frameworks and institutional setups in line with European norms and values. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in fostering a shared constitutional heritage among nations. With 61 members currently, including 46 Council of Europe countries and an additional 15 member states, along with four observer states, the Venice Commission operates from Venice, symbolizing a commitment to democracy and law across Europe and beyond.