The experience-sharing project for the Justices of the Constitutional Court of Moldova at the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia ends
From 4 to 10 November, the Constitutional Court welcomed four Judges from the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova (hereafter – Moldova) in the framework of the project “Increasing the capacity of the legal service of the Constitutional Court of Moldova”.
During the project, Judges Domnica MANOLE, Nicolae ROȘCA, Liuba ȘOVA and Serghei ȚURCAN gained knowledge on the Latvian model of constitutional review, the competence of the Latvian Constitutional Court and the organisation of its work, discussed topical constitutional law issues with the Justices and Advisers of the Constitutional Court, as well as studied the methodology used by the Constitutional Court to examine the constitutionality of legal norms.
President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele on implementation of the project: “An international level experience sharing process like this is a very valuable instrument for promotion the rule of law. There is a sense of satisfaction that the Constitutional Court, by implementing the constitutional review in Latvia in the course of more than 20 years, has accrued experience and knowledge that is so rich that can serve as support for strengthening the legal culture of another state.”
President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Ineta Ziemele and Judges from the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova. Photo: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia.
At the beginning of the visit, the guests were given an insight into the history, competence of the Constitutional Court and organisations of its work. Judges met with President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele, who explained the role of the Constitutional Court in the development of Latvia as a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Judges of the Constitutional Court of Moldova discussed topical issues in the work of both constitutional courts with Justices Gunārs Kusiņš, Artūrs Kučs, and the Court’s Advisers.
The subsequent three days were dedicated to the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. Judges heard a lecture by the Constitutional Court’s Advisers on the legal proceedings before the Constitutional Court and formed an impression of the duties of Justices and the Court’s employees within each procedural stage. The colleagues from Moldova also learned about the methodology for assessing restrictions on a person’s fundamental rights used by the Constitutional Court of Latvia. Head of the Legal Department Alla Spale gave a lecture on the effect of a judgement by the Constitutional Court and its coming into force, underscoring that the judgement was final and not subject to appeal, whereas the interpretation of the respective legal norm provided in it was generally binding.
Head of the Legal Department of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Alla Spale and Judges from the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova. Photo: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia.
In the remaining days of the project, Judges of the Constitutional Court of Moldova consolidated the acquired knowledge in sessions of practical work. They had the possibility to analyse the Constitutional Court’s rulings, focusing, in particular, on the methodology used in the rulings, as well as on revealing and interpreting the content of fundamental rights in interconnection with the European and international law. Judges also learnt about sources of law that the Constitutional Court uses in the reasoning of its rulings. The guests were provided also with information on the judicial dialogue between the Constitutional Court and other Latvian courts and the institution of a court’s application.
The concluding event of the project was a round-table discussion, involving all participants of the project as well as Justices of the Latvian Constitutional Court Aldis Laviņš, Gunārs Kusiņš, and Jānis Neimanis. The parties exchanged opinions on the benefits from the collaboration, and Judges from the Constitutional Court of Moldova also expressed the wish to continue the present collaboration.
The training was organised and managed by Head of the Legal Department of the Constitutional Court Alla Spale, lectures were given also by the Court’s Advisers Elīna Podzorova and Uldis Krastiņš.
Gunārs Kusiņš and Artūrs Kučs, Judges of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia, the staff of the Constitutional Court which was involved in the project and the Judges of the Constitutional Court of Moldova. Photo: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia.
The project received development cooperation financing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia in 2019.
As reported previously, in the framework of the project, from 19 to 25 October of this year, four lawyers from the Constitutional Court of Moldova visited the Latvian Constitutional Court. The Embassy of Moldova in Latvia also has been involved in the implementation of the project.