If accepted, the United States would become the 59th – and 12th non-European – member state to join the Venice Commission and would give the US a greater role in reform efforts in areas such as the Middle East and North Africa as well as other young democracies in Europe.  

Legal standards

The Venice  Commission -  so called because it holds four plenary sessions a year in Venice -  has raised headlines in the past with its opinions on legal issues faced by Eastern European countries in transitional phases of democracy, most recently in Romania and Hungary.
The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, promotes co-operation between European states concerning legal standards, human rights, democratic development and the rule of law.
In a statement, the US consulate in Strasbourg said: ‘As a full member, the US will be able to appoint two experts to the Commission, doubling its current representation. Its experts will be able to take part in all four plenary sessions, participate in country visits, develop and draft opinions, and vote on opinions and recommendations.’

New perspective

Thomas Markert, Executive Secretary of the Venice Commission, commented: ‘US membership at the Venice Commission will mean for the Commission additional experienced individual member(s) bringing in a new perspective into its work.
‘It will also mean that our opinions will bear more weight in some countries and thus there will be hopefully more efficient follow-up to our recommendations. Last but not least, the US is going to contribute to our budget, although according to our revised Statute is not going to be a big payer as this country is not European. They will also will not vote on questions raised by the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe ( article 5 of the revised Statute).’

The  Council of Europe will make its decision on 13 February.