Sergio Bartole is Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Trieste.

• Introduction 1. The Development of the Role of the Venice Commission I. The Transition to Democracy and Rule of Law in Central and Eastern Europe II. The Take-Off of the Activity of the Venice Commission III. Rule of Law and Separation of Powers IV. Forms of Government V. Judicial Review 2. European Conditionality, Living Constitution and Constitutional Drafting I. The Many Faces of Conditionality II. From the Council of Europe to the EU – The Living Constitution III. Accession of New Member States to the EU IV. Post-Accession Conditionality and Compliance V. Constitutional and Legislative Drafting 3. The European Constitutional Heritage as a Yardstick for the New Democracies I. The Research of a Parameter II. Paradoxes and History of the Concept of the European Constitutional Heritage III. Comparing Western and Eastern Europe Traditions IV. The Impact of the Western Tradition 4. The Epiphany of the International Constitutional Law I. Constitutionalism and International Law II. International Law, Transnational Law and National Law III. The Making of International Constitutional Law: The Role of the Venice Commission IV. Precedents and Examples5. International Constitutional Law: Sources and Materials I. International Law and Transnational Law II. The Research of the Historical Roots III. The Dubious Contribution of the Central and Eastern European CountriesIV. Conclusions 6. The Venice Commission’s Contribution to the Internationalisation of Constitutional Law Regarding States’ Judicial Organisation I. Introduction: The Separation of Powers and Its Implementation II. Judicial Councils and Other Solutions III. The Functions of Judicial Councils IV. Budgetary and Financial Matters V. The Prosecution Service VI. Crises and Difficulties of the Mediterranean Model VII. Corruption, Miscarriages and Vetting Procedures VIII. Conclusions 7. Constitutional Justice in the Frame of the Rule of Law I. Setting the Scene II. Institutional Position and Composition of Constitutional Courts III. Jurisdiction and Functions IV. Effects of the Decisions of the Constitutional Courts V. Tensions between Constitutional Courts and Other Branches of the State VI. Constitutional Justice, Rule of Law and Dialogue between the Courts 8. Conclusions and Perspectives I. The Conclusions of the Research II. Tensions in the European Union and Symptoms of Backsliding III. The Reaction of the European Judges IV. International Constitutional Law: Principles, Norms or Standards? V. European or Universal Perspectives? Appendix 1: Monitoring Committee and Venice Commission: 27 Years of Growing Interaction Appendix 2: Comparative Constitutional Law – An Indispensable Tool for the Creation of Transnational Law