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The Balkan Constitutional Courts Forum gained official status after member states unanimously adopted its founding statute and signed the “Antalya Declaration” during the forum’s third conference, hosted by Türkiye’s Constitutional Court in Antalya.
The conference, held at the Justice Organization Strengthening Foundation Training and Social Facilities, brought together constitutional and high court presidents and members from Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
Observer members Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Romania also attended, along with representatives from Azerbaijan, the TRNC, Moldova, and judges from the European Court of Human Rights.
Following panel sessions, the Member Council Meeting convened to discuss the draft statute outlining the structure, objectives, activities, term presidency, and membership rules of the forum, which was initially established on Oct. 27, 2023.
Constitutional Court President Kadir Ozkaya said the statute was modeled on other regional organizations and emphasized the need for concrete decision-making mechanisms.
“Rather than an informal structure, a mechanism that includes concrete decision-making appears preferable for the healthy functioning of the forum,” Ozkaya said. “It is clear that this cooperation, now in its third year, needs a tangible decision-making process.”
The statute was adopted unanimously following negotiations, formally granting the forum its official status.
The “Antalya Declaration” confirming the adoption of the statute was signed by President Ozkaya, Bulgarian Constitutional Court President Pavlina Panova, Kosovo Constitutional Court President Nexhmi Rexhepi, North Macedonia Constitutional Court President Darko Kostadinovski, Montenegro Constitutional Court President Snežana Armenko, and Albania’s representative Sonila Bejtja.
Members agreed that the fourth conference of the Balkan Constitutional Courts Forum will be hosted next year by the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia.
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