The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Latvia Govert Jan Cornelis Bijl de Vroe visits the Constitutional Court

01.09.2020.

On Friday, 28 August, President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele and Advisor to the President Inguss Kalniņš met with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Latvia Govert Jan Cornelis Bijl de Vroe. The initiative of the Netherlands’ Government to develop, in the framework of bilateral cooperation, projects of closer dialogue to promote uniform understanding of the rule of law principle in Europe, was discussed during the meeting. During the visit, the Constitutional Court’s role in promoting the rule of law in Latvia was highlighted.

Ineta Ziemele underscored in the conversation that the constitutional courts of the Member States plaid an important role in reinforcing united values in the European Union as these courts, first of all, revealed the constitutional traditions of the particular society and the shared traditions, on which the European Union was founded, were revealed in the judicial dialogue in Europe.

Inguss Kalniņš pointed to the importance of public awareness for the understanding of the rule of law principle. He noted that people’s interest and activity in legal matters should be facilitated through education.

Both parties expressed the need to increase mass media outlets’ focus on the topic of the rule of law, the work of constitutional courts; likewise, dialogue with the young generation needs to be developed. It is important to develop innovative solutions for a targeted dialogue to support the lawyer’s profession and inform society, as well as to shape a united culture of the rule of law.

Ineta Ziemele stated that the courts of the European Union Member States should develop a closer dialogue. She emphasised that the reality of the 21^st century demanded from courts modern and flexible communication, allowing them to share ideas also on the international level.

Ineta Ziemele commended the efforts made by the Netherlands to promote the rule of law on the European Union level and expressed the wish to maintain a close dialogue also in the future.