The Constitutional Courts of European Microstates
Städtle
LI 9490 Vaduz
An diesem rechtswissenschaftlichen Symposium, das vom liechtensteinischen Staatsgerichtshof zusammen mit dem Liechtenstein-Institut und den Universitäten Innsbruck und St. Gallen organisiert wird, beleuchten Forschende aus Europa und Übersee die verschiedensten Aspekte der Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit.
Dank der Teilnahme von Richterinnen und Richtern der Verfassungsgerichte von Andorra, Monaco, San Marino und des Staatsgerichtshofes werden die Herausforderungen, denen sich die Rechtsprechung in Kleinststaaten gegenübersieht, besonders thematisiert.
Programme
Thu 23 April 2026
9:00 - 9:30am Welcoming Addresses
Emanuel Schädler, Minister of Social Affairs and Justice of Liechtenstein
Hilmar Hoch, President of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein, Representative of the Venice Commission
Panel 1: Constitutional Courts, Microstates and Comparison
Chair: Andreas Kley, University of Zurich
9:30 - 10:00am
The Constitutional Courts of Microstates - a Theoretical and Comparative Framework
Anna Gamper, University of Innsbruck/Substitute Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein Discussion
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10:00 - 10:30am
Coffee break
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10:30 - 12:45pm
The Constitutional Court of Andorra
Juan Manel Abril Campoy, President of the Constitutional Court of Andorra
The Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
Christian Ritter, Vice President of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
The Supreme Court of Monaco
Jean-Philippe Derosier, University of Lille/Substitute Judge of the Supreme Court of Monaco
The Constitutional Court of San Marino
(representative of the respective Court)
Discussion
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12:45 - 2:00pm Lunch
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2:00 - 3:15pm
Panel 2: Composition and Independence of Constitutional Courts
Chair: Daniela Thurnherr Keller, University of Basel/Substitute Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
Challenges for the Appointment of Constitutional Judges in Microstates and International Law
Peter Bußjäger, University of Innsbruck/Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein/Member of the Venice Commission
Appointment and Composition of Constitutional Courts: European Standards
Regina Kiener, University of Zurich/Member of the Venice Commission Discussion
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3:15 – 3:45pm Coffee break
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3:45 - 5:00pm
Panel 3: Constitutional Reasoning and Interpretation of Constitutional Courts
Chair: Benedikt Pirker, University of Fribourg/Liechtenstein-Institut
Comparative Constitutional Reasoning and Interpretation
András Jakab, University of Salzburg/Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
Comparative Judicial Review in Microstates
Erin F. Delaney, University College London
Discussion
Fri 24 April 2026
9:00 - 10:15am
Panel 4: Judicial Cultures and Practices
Chair: Julia Hänni, University of St. Gallen/Judge of the Swiss Federal Court
Court and Constitutional Organ – Observations on a Delicate Balance for the Bundesverfassungsgericht
Peter M. Huber, University of Munich/Former Regional Minister of the Interior of Thuringia/Former Judge of the German Federal Constitutional Court
The Use and Knowledge of Languages in Constitutional Courts
Xabier Arzoz, National University of Distance Education Madrid
Discussion
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10:15 - 10:45am Coffee break
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10:45 - 12:00pm
Panel 5: Microstate, Monarchy and Constitutional Adjudication
Chair: Patricia M. Schiess Rütimann, University of Zurich/Liechtenstein Institute
The Role of “Republican” Judges in Monarchies
Bernhard Ehrenzeller, University of St. Gallen/Former Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
Microstate Monarchies and Constitutional Justice
Elisa Bertolini, Bocconi University, Milan
Discussion
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12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch
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1:00 – 2:15pm
Panel 6: Foreign Judges and the Use of Foreign Law in Constitutional Litigation
Chair: Benjamin Schindler, University of St. Gallen/Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
The Use of Foreign Precedents in the Constitutional Case Law of Microstates
Tania Groppi, University of Siena
Foreign Judges on Microstate Constitutional Courts
Anna Dziedzic, University of Melbourne
Discussion
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2:15 - 2:45pm Coffee break
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2:45 - 4:00pm
Panel 7: Horizontal and Vertical Dialogues between Constitutional Courts and European Courts
Chair: Eva Maria Belser, University of Fribourg
Embedded and Collaborative: the Role of Courts in front of the Rule of Law Erosion
Marta Cartabia, Bocconi University, Milan/President of the Venice Commission/Former Italian Minister of Justice/President Emerita of the Italian Constitutional Court
The Significance of the Monistic Understanding of International Law for Multi-level Jurisprudence of Small States
Georges Baur, Liechtenstein-Institut
Discussion
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4:00 - 5:00pm
Panel Discussion: “Constitutional Courts in Microstates - Sharing Comparative Experiences”
Chair: Anna Gamper, University of Innsbruck/Substitute Judge of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein
Panelists: Representatives of the Constitutional Courts of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco und San Marino
Registration
Participation in this conference is free of charge. Please register by email to Mag. Monika Weber () before 13 April 2026.
The conference will also be livestreamed (the link will be published prior to the event on this website).
This conference is generously supported by
Helmuth Merlin Stiftung
Stiftung Fürstl. Kommerzialrat Guido Feger
H.E.M. Stiftung
International Conference on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Liechtenstein, organised by
Liechtenstein-Institut
Universität Innsbruck
Staatsgerichtshof des Fürstentums Liechtenstein
Universität St. Gallen
