Saturday, June 18, 2016

The annual meeting of directors of 21 Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe took place on 15-16 June 2016 in Strasbourg. The directors discussed on recent and possible future developments with regard to the Network of Schools but also contributed on the organization of the next World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg in November, whose main topic will be education and where schools will have an even greater role in various sessions and labs.

The directors meeting was organized on the eve of the second event of the program “The Civic Roundtable”, which brings together 30 alumni and other fellows from Europe. Directors discussed the report prepared by alumni regarding the problems Europe is facing today. This report was submitted to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland, as a direct contribution of alumni educated by the Political Schools.

Gianni Buquicchio, the president of the Venice Commission was among other prominent guest speakers on the program “The Civic Roundtable”. His presentation was focused on the institution's role in providing expertise on constitutional amendments in different countries members of the Council of Europe. The questions of the participants raised the two most debated opinions of the Venice Commission at these moments: the justice reform in Albania as well as the Polish constitution on counterterrorism measures. In both cases, Mr. Buquicchio highlighted the fact that any reforms need a democratic culture and for this reason, he praised the role of Schools of Political Studies as a promoter of democratic societies and improving the political education. "We will continue to offer our expertise whenever asked, despite criticism and attacks that can come from politicians," said the head of the Venice Commission.