The Czech and Slovenian legal systems share a number of similarities and parallels. This is due, among other things, to their geographical proximity, their shared history, and their membership in the same European legal order (whether it be the EU law or the obligations arising from the European Convention on Human Rights). Representatives of the Czech and Slovenian Constitutional Courts often meet at multilateral forums. Both courts are also members of the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC) and the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ).

At the invitation of the President of the Slovenian Constitutional Court, Rok Čeferin, this time a bilateral meeting was held. The delegation of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic was led by President Josef Baxa, who was accompanied to Ljubljana by Vice-President Veronika Křesťanová, Justice Lucie Dolanská Bányaiová, Justice Zdeněk Kühn, and Secretary General Vlastimil Göttinger. The bilateral meeting, which took place on Tuesday, 3 March, at the seat of the Slovenian Constitutional Court, focused on two topics. These were the assessment of the fairness of criminal proceedings as a whole and the judicial independence and judges' salaries. In addition to these topics, several other issues related to the review and protection of constitutionality were discussed.

The bilateral meeting took place in a warm atmosphere and was substantive and fruitful. Although constitutional courts must first and foremost devote themselves to their decision-making activities, the exchange of knowledge and perspectives is naturally enriching for them and can contribute significantly to deepening the protection of constitutionality and human rights.

Pavel Dvořák
Head of the External Relations and Protocol Department
 

© Photo: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia, Daniel Novakovič/STA