23/01/2025 - 24/01/2025
On 23 and 24 January 2025, a delegation of the Venice Commission held a series of online meetings in preparation of the draft follow-up opinion to previous opinions on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This follow-up opinion was requested by the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 November 2024.
The delegation engaged in discussions with the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Justice of the Federation and representatives of the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska, representatives from different... read more
06/01/2025
By letter dated 21 November 2024, the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Davor Bunoza, has requested the Venice Commission for a follow-up opinion on the draft law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The draft follow-up opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 14-15 March 2025).
04/09/2024 - 05/09/2024
Sarajevo, 4-5 September 2024 – Implementing innovative solutions to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the elections was discussed during the workshop co-organised by the Venice Commission and the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The workshop took place in the context of the upcoming local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled for 6 October 2024, where digital technologies for biometric identification and authentication of voters, electronic transfer of results from the polling stations to the CEC, ballot scanning, and video surveillance of th... read more
10/06/2024 - 11/06/2024
Sarajevo – A delegation of the Venice Commission conducted a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the context of the preparation of its Interim Follow-up Opinion to previous Opinions on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This opinion follows a request by Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 10 May 2024.
The Venice Commission delegation met with the Minister of Justice, several representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, as well as with representatives of the Parliamentary ... read more
30/05/2024
Sarajevo – On 30 May 2024, a delegation of the Venice Commission held online meetings, in preparation of its draft Opinion on the method of electing judges to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This Opinion was requested by the then-Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Željko Komšić, on 15 March 2024.
The delegation met on-line with the President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, advisors to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the High Representative and representatives of the European Union delegation i... read more
09/05/2024
By letter dated 9 May 2024, the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Davor Bunoza, has requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 139th Plenary Session of the Commission (Venice, 21-22 June 2024).
21/02/2024
On 21 February 2024, a delegation of the Venice Commission conducted on-line meetings, in preparation of its draft Opinion on certain questions relating to the functioning of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This Opinion was requested by the President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 19 January 2024.
The delegation met on-line with the President of the Constitutional Court and representatives of the EU, the Office of the High Representative and academia.
The draft Opinion is prepared under the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanis... read more
27/01/2024
By letter dated 19 January 2024, the President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms Valerija Galić, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on certain questions related to the functioning of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 138th plenary session of the Commission (15-16 March 2024).
16/06/2023
The Venice Commission is seriously concerned about a call for resignation issued by the Assembly of Republika Srpska to the Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia, Mr Zlatko Knežević, who is one of the two judges elected by the National Assembly of RS - and also a member of the Venice Commission in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is a fundamental guarantee of independence of a constitutional court that its members may not be recalled nor replaced, nor asked to resign on political grounds by those who appointed them.
In agreement with and in support ... read more
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – Forthcoming Joint Opinion – Online meetings
25/05/2023
In the framework of the preparation of the draft Joint Opinion on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organisations, a delegation of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR met on 19 and 24 May 2023 (online) with the representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srspka and local civil society.
The draft Joint Opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 135th Plenary Session, 09-10 June 2023.
15/05/2023
By letter dated 24 April 2023, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights invited the Venice Commission to prepare a joint opinion on the draft law of Republika Srpska on the Special Registry and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations.
The draft opinion will be prepared jointly with the OSCE/ODIHR and submitted for adoption at the 135th plenary session of the Commission (09-10 June 2023).
20/02/2023 - 22/02/2023
In the framework of the preparation of the draft opinion on the draft law on courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the rapporteurs of the Venice Commission met online with representatives of the following interlocutors:
• Ministry of Justice,
• Parliamentary Assembly,
• High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council,
• Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• Office of the High Representative,
• European Union Delegation,
• NGOs.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 134th Plenary Session (Venice, 10-11 March 2023).
This draft op... read more
25/10/2022
On 7 September 2022 the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested the Venice Commission to examine the draft Law on the Courts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On 19 September 2022 the Venice Commission received a request for an amicus curiae brief from the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the current Law on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The relevant draft opinion and draft amicus curiae brief will be submitted for adoption at the 133rd Plenary Session on 16-17 December 2022.
02/10/2022
Sarajevo – A representative of the Venice Commission accompanied the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) election observation delegation to advise on the legal framework of the general elections of 2 October 2022 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the elections.
26/05/2021
In the framework of the preparation of the draft opinion on the draft law on the conflict of interests, on 25 and 26 May 2021 the Commission’s rapporteurs held a series of online meetings with the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with the MPs in Parliament from the majority and opposition parties, Agency on the Prevention of Corruption, the Conflict of Interests Commission, representatives of the civil society and the international community.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption during the 127th plenary session (2-3 July 2021).
11/05/2021
On 27 April 2021, the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Josip Grubesa, requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law on the prevention of conflicts of interest in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption at the 127th plenary session of the Commission (2-3 July 2021).
The draft opinion will be prepared under the Expert Coordination Mechanism in the framework of the EU/CoE joint programme Horizontal Facility II, co-funded by the Council of Europe and the European Union and implemented by ... read more
28/01/2021 - 29/01/2021
Following the request of the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Venice Commission is preparing an opinion on the draft law on amendments to the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.
In this context, the Venice Commission organised a series of virtual meetings with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina which took place on 28-29 January 2021.
The rapporteurs of the Venice Commission virtually met with the Ministers of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the two entities, representatives of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, ... read more
15/12/2020
The Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law on amendments to the Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.
The draft opinion will be submitted for adoption to the March 2021 plenary session of the Commission.
EU TAIEX Workshop on Political party financing
27/01/2020 - 28/01/2020
Sarajevo - A representative of the Venice Commission took part in the TAIEX Workshop on “Political party financing – experience so far and next steps”, organised by the European Commission in co-operation with Bosnia and Herzegovina Election Commission, which took place in Sarajevo on 27 and 28 January 2020.
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – forthcoming opinion – country visit
04/11/2019 - 05/11/2019
Sarajevo – a joint delegation of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR paid a visit to Sarajevo to discuss with the authorities and other stakeholders the legal framework governing the right to freedom of assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in its two entities and Brčko district.
The draft joint opinion is on the agenda of the plenary session of December 2019.
07/10/2019 - 08/10/2019
Sarajevo - The Venice Commission participated in the Second Meeting of the Regional Electoral Jurisprudence Working Group, which discussed the following issues: the procedural challenges in election dispute resolution; the evidentiary issues in election cases, including recounts and audits; the issue of annulment of election results; social media and the spread of disinformation in elections; and vote buying, campaign finance violations and abuse of State resources.
22/05/2019
Strasbourg - The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly decided to ask the Venice Commission to produce an overall assessment of the legal framework governing freedom of peaceful assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its two entities and in the Brčko district.
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA – TAIEX Workshop on Judicial review
11/04/2019
Sarajevo - The Venice Commission participated in the workshop on “Judicial review of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council decisions on appointment and appraisal”.
The event was organised and funded by the EU TAIEX – the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument of the European Commission in co-operation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of the country.
06/10/2018 - 08/10/2018
Sarajevo - A delegation of the Venice Commission accompaned the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) election observation delegation to advise on the legal framework of the general elections of 7 October 2018 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the elections.
04/06/2018 - 05/06/2018
Sarajevo - The Venice Commission participated in a second series of meetings with the actors of the electoral process, in order to provide expert assistance in the consultations on the necessary changes to the electoral legislation concerning the election of the Chamber of Peoples of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This visit was organised as part of the "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey", a joint programme funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.
22/05/2018 - 24/05/2018
Sarajevo - As agreed by the political parties of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the context of the EU/US facilitation efforts on electoral reform, and following a formal request made by the EU, the Venice Commission attended a series of meetings with the relevant electoral stakeholders in order to provide expert assistance in the process of on-going discussions on necessary changes to electoral legislation, in particular concerning the election of the House of Peoples of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This visit took place in the framework of "Horizontal Fa... read more
23/09/2016
Strasbourg - I am alarmed by the fact that, despite a decision by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 17 September 2016 to suspend the referendum in Republika Srpska scheduled for 25 September 2016, the authorities of Republika Srpska intend to go ahead with the organisation of the referendum. In a state governed by the rule of law the judgments of the Constitutional Court are implemented and are not made the subject of a vote, whether in parliament or by the people.
The Constitutional Court has declared the Day of the Republika Sprska unconstitutional as being ... read more
Request for opinion - Bosnia and Herzegovina
10/06/2016
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has made a request for an amicus curiae brief from the Venice Commission on the mode of elections of delegates in the House of Peoples of the Parliament of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The amicus curiae brief should be adopted by the Venice Commission at its 108th Plenary Session in October 2016.
10/09/2015 - 11/09/2015
Sarajevo - A delegation of the Venice Commission visits Bosnia and Herzegovina to hold discussions on the draft law on the ombudsman for human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This visit is taking place in the framework of the preparation of an opinion upon a request submitted by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.
The delegation will hold meetings with representatives of the authorities as well as of the Ombudsman Institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the civil society and international organisations present in the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – request for opinion
18/05/2015
The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees requested the Venice Commission to provide an opinion on the Law on Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
27/03/2014 - 28/03/2014
Sarajevo - A delegation of the Venice Commission, headed by its President, participated in the celebration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Constitutional Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Conference on “Constitutional Court – Between Negative Legislator and Positive Activism”.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – forthcoming opinion on the draft constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
18/11/2013 - 19/11/2013
Sarajevo - Following the request for an opinion made by the Chair of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the constitutional reform, a delegation from the Venice Commission will make a visit to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 and 19 November 2013 to meet with different authorities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – request for opinion - draft constitution of the Federation
11/10/2013
By a letter dated 11 October 2013, the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested an opinion from the Venice Commission on the draft constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Commission will make a visit to the Federation on 18 and 19 November 2013.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – request for Amicus Curiae opinion
20/06/2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina – request for Amicus Curiae opinion by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the issue of the choice of a National Day in the Republika Srpska and its potentially discriminatory character.
03/12/2012
Sarajevo – a delegation of the Venice Commission will take part in a workshop organised by the EU within the context of the EU-BiH Structured Dialogue on Justice. The workshop’s aim is to facilitate the on-going dialogue on the revision of the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC), addressing notably the issue of professionalism and the independence of the judiciary in the light of this institution’s possible reform.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Seminar on electoral standards
10/09/2008 - 10/09/2008
The Central Electoral Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Venice Commission co-organise a seminar on electoral standards. This activity involves members of electoral commissions of different levels and focuses on different issues concerning the forthcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The participants will have an opportunity to discuss the existing international electoral standards and their practical implementation during the electoral process.
Séminaire sur "la Constitution, la protection des Droits de l’Homme et l'ombudsman" (Sarajevo)
15/11/1999 - 15/11/1999
UniDem Seminar "New trends in electoral law in a pan-European context" (Sarajevo)
17/04/1998 - 17/04/1998