On May 15 and 16, 2025, the Department of Legal Studies hosted the international conference "The Venice Commission 1990-2025: Taking Stock of 35 Years for Democracy Through Law," co-organized with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary, over 40 scholars from around the world gathered at Bocconi to discuss the role, achievements, and future challenges of the Venice Commission – the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters.

Initially established to support constitution-building processes during the democratic transition in Central and Eastern European countries, the Venice Commission has, over the years, emerged as a crucial actor in standard-setting for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, within Europe and beyond.

"The conference offered a unique opportunity for exchange between the Venice Commission – with several of its members participating – and legal scholarship of different countries and different generations," stated Marta Cartabia, Professor of Constitutional Law at Bocconi and Vice-President of the Venice Commission. "This dialogue with legal scholarship is essential for the Venice Commission at a time when the principles of the rule of law and democracy are seriously questioned in several countries, including so-called 'established democracies'."