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The Draft Amendments propose changes to constitutional provisions on the status of international human rights treaties and their position in the hierarchy of norms, the separation of powers, the dismissal of members of Cabinet, the manner of appointing/dismissing heads of local state administration, the independence of the judiciary and of judges as well as the roles of the Supreme Court, and of the Constitutional Chamber, among others. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission note that the proposed amendments to the Constitution may negatively impact the balance of powers by strengthening the powers of the executive, while weakening both the parliament and, to a greater extent, the judiciary. In particular, although the Constitutional Chamber is retained as such, the Draft Amendments would seriously affect its institutional status and role as an effective organ of judicial constitutional review. Moreover, some of the proposed amendments raise concerns with regard to key democratic principles, in particular the rule of law, the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, and have the potential to encroach on certain human rights and fundamental freedoms.

816th Plenary Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation

816th Plenary Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation

Given by Ambassador Eberhard Pohl on behalf of the Special Representative of the Federal Government for the OSCE Chairmanship 2016 Dr. Gernot Erler, Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2016, 30 September 2016 Warsaw.

Report by the Chairperson of the Informal Working Group on the Scales of Contribution.

Information Exchange on the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security

HDIM 2016 Schedule and Overview of Side Events

Speech by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media at the session on media freedom at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, 22 September 2016.

1106th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

1106th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council