The annual conference of the Latvian and the Lithuanian Constitutional Courts ends

09.06.2017.

Today, on 9 June, the conference of the Latvian and Lithuanian Constitutional Courts on legality assessment in the judgements of the Constitutional Court ended.

Justices of the Constitutional Courts discussed methods that the Constitutional Court should use in legality assessment. Justices of the Latvian and the Lithuanian constitutional courts shared their experience and made proposals on improving quality of legislation and expanding the scope of constitutional review. Justices shared the opinion that the quality of legislation improves, if the branches of state power cooperated and society’s involvement was ensured. The importance of scientific research in legislative process was highlighted. Analysis of opinions held by experts and researchers in the field allow coming to conclusions on how to draft legal regulation that complies with the Constitution and is effective. It is also important to inform society about the course of legislative process.

The President of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court Dainius Žalimas underscored in his presentation that the Constitution was the standard of the rule of law and that the task of the Constitutional Court was to interpret and apply the Constitution. Thus, the Constitutional Courts have also the task of developing constitutional doctrine and provide in their rulings guidelines to the legislator on how to improve the legislative process and act in compliance with the Constitution.

Justice of the Latvian Constitutional Court Gunārs Kusiņš positively assessed the practice of the Constitutional Court thus far, because the use of findings expressed in the Court’s rulings in the legislator’s work had left a positive impact upon quality of regulatory enactments.

Aldis Laviņš, Justice of the Latvian Constitutional Court, and Vytas Milius, Justice of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court, provided an insight into the topical case law of both countries. Analysis of the case law revealed that the Constitutional Courts had to review more frequently constitutional compliance of regulation that pertained to economic and social issues. Thus, the Constitutional Court has an important role in promoting national development. Participants of the discussion underscored that reinforcement of the rule of law led to economic growth and stability and also fostered national security.