Constitutional aspects in small European states: presented in San Marino at the Venice Commission conference

Addressing the constitutional aspects of small states, determining the interaction between smaller European states and the Council of Europe’s monitoring and expert bodies, and working for the implementation of the Council of Europe’s standards of judicial independence by micro states. These are the issues that will be the focus of work during the Venice Commission’s International Conference “Constitutional Aspects in Small European States” scheduled for October 14 in San Marino.

The Venice Commission, an organ of the Council of Europe committed to the protection of fundamental rights and democratic principles, has the main task of providing legal assistance to states that request it, particularly in cases where the legal systems want to adapt to European standards regarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Presenting this important appointment , this morning in San Marino, were Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, Secretary of State for Justice, Stefano Canti, and Alternate Director and member of the Venice Commission for San Marino, Commissioner of Law Fabio Giovagnoli.

“We are one of the states that has best succeeded in meeting the guidelines,” noted Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Luca Beccari. “We are aware that the interaction between San Marino and the Council of Europe however fruitful, has often been characterized by reflections on how small states can transpose and implement standards built for larger realities with different characteristics.” “San Marino wants to play an increasingly proactive role in the Council of Europe,” Beccari continued, ”to move out of mere alignment with the guidelines and be more and more an active part in defining the mechanisms and offer a more peculiar point of view than the large states.”

“A small republic in an international context becomes a large nation,” added Stefano Canti. “This is an opportunity for our court as a growth and to be able to engage with experts of an international nature.”

Commissioner Giovagnoli concluded by stressing the importance this initiative in order to approach an analysis dedicated to small European states and explained how during these paths “the differences between micro and macro dimensions tend toward international homogenization. Micro states are given full sovereignty and participation but it is obvious that they are asked to fulfill rules of behavior projected to macro ones.”