On 2 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs participated in the formal hearing of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia to mark the commencement of the Court's work this year. Following the formal hearing at the premises of the Constitutional Court, the President of Latvia awarded Mr Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, the Order of the Three Stars (Second Class) for his significant contribution and distinguished achievement in advancing the development of Latvia’s democratic institutions and rule of law, as well as promoting the international recognition of the Latvian legal tradition.
Koen Lenaerts was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union on 7 October 2003. He served as President of the Chamber from 2006 to 2012 and was later appointed Vice-President of the Court. On 8 October 2015, Koen Lenaerts was elected President of the Court of Justice of the European Union and continues to serve in this capacity to this day.
The Constitutional Court has recognised that the content and application of national legislation must take into account the European Union legislation aimed at strengthening democracy, as well as the interpretation of it established by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Judicial dialogue in the European judicial area and international cooperation encompasses the Constitutional Court's communication with, inter alia, the Court of Justice of the European Union.
During his tenure as President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Koen Lenaerts has consistently promoted this dialogue, visiting Latvia on numerous occasions on working visits and directly contributing to the resolution of issues pivotal to the development of the Latvian legal system. Thanks to the contribution of Koen Lenaerts, the Constitutional Court and other institutions within the Latvian judicial system are engaged in close legal cooperation with the European Court of Justice both at the highest level and in various collaborative frameworks. This cooperation represents the crucial investment in protecting the rule of law and the constitutional identity of Latvia. In addition, it helps to raise the public transparency of courts, facilitating a closer and more open legal dialogue with the wider society in Latvia and across Europe.
