President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko M. Knežević and Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of BiH, Mirsad Ćeman are attending the International Conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic and the meeting of the Circle of Presidents for the purpose of preparation of the XVIII Congress of the Conference of the European Constitutional Courts. The conference and preparatory meeting of the Circle of Presidents are held in Prague, Czech Republic from 13 to 15 June 2018.
This year, the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic commemorates the 25th anniversary of its creation. In addition, 45 years have passed since the death of the father of the idea of constitutional justice – Hans Kelsen, an Austrian jurist, legal and political philosopher born in Prague. In this connection, the Constitutional Court of Czech Republic will organise the international conference entitled “Our Beginnings: Hans Kelsen's Heirs” to be held on 14 June 2018. On that occasion, in papers and presentations at the Conference, the participants could reflect on the roots of the European protection of constitutionality and remember the milestones in the creation and development of European constitutional courts.
The Circle of Presidents gathers the presidents of all constitutional courts - the members of the Conference of the European Constitutional Courts. The sessions of that body are in service of preparations of the Congress of the Conference of the European Constitutional Courts.
The Conference of the European Constitutional Courts was established in 1972 by the constitutional courts of the Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Austria, Republic of Italy and former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. The Conference was joined by the constitutional courts of many other countries, particularly in the last decade. Currently, the Conference gathers more than 40 European courts or other highest courts in relevant countries performing the duty of constitutional judiciary.
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina became a member of the Conference of the European Constitutional Courts at the preparatory meeting of the 17th Congress of the European Constitutional Courts held in Brussels in 2000. Since then the Constitutional Court, represented by its representatives - the judges of the Constitutional Court, regularly attends the sessions of the Congress.
