IPA CIS Focuses on Strengthening Common Legal Space and Advancing Model Lawmaking

Legal experts, parliamentarians and representatives of legislative institutions from across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered in St. Petersburg during the 14th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum to discuss the future of model lawmaking and the role of legal science in strengthening interparliamentary cooperation.

A key event of the forum was the round table “Legal Science in the Architecture of Interparliamentary Dialogue: New Approaches to Drafting Model Laws,” organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS (IPA CIS). The discussion brought together representatives of national parliaments, judicial bodies, research institutions and international organizations from CIS countries.

Opening the event, Secretary General of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Dmitriy Kobitskiy emphasized that the preparation of model legislative acts requires a thorough analysis of national legal systems and meaningful engagement with the academic community. According to him, expert knowledge should serve as a practical resource for legislators and contribute to the development of effective legal solutions.

Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Andrey Klishas highlighted the importance of assessing how model laws are implemented in national legal systems and how they contribute to legislative development across the Commonwealth.

First Deputy Secretary General of the CIS Igor Petrishenko noted that particular attention should be paid to developing modern legal approaches to regulating artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging technologies. He stressed the importance of creating effective mechanisms for implementing decisions adopted within the CIS framework.

The discussion also addressed the broader process of legal harmonization in the Commonwealth. Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat – Director of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations Ivan Mushket described law as a common language of interstate cooperation. He noted that over 35 years the CIS has developed a unique legal language that respects national sovereignty while promoting closer cooperation among Member Nations.

According to Mushket, the formation of a common legal space remains an ongoing process influenced by rapid technological change and the transformation of international relations. He emphasized the need to synchronize CIS legal standards with those of other regional integration organizations while avoiding duplication and preserving the specific features of the Commonwealth’s legal framework.

Participants also explored the use of artificial intelligence in legislative drafting, legal expertise and comparative legal analysis, as well as the harmonization of cybersecurity standards and the digital transformation of parliamentary cooperation.

The discussions reaffirmed the importance of legal science in supporting evidence-based lawmaking legislation and strengthening legal cooperation among the Commonwealth countries. The conclusions and highlighted the continuing role of the IPA CIS as a platform for developing model and proposals presented at the forum are expected to contribute to future efforts aimed at improving the quality, relevance and practical implementation of model laws across the CIS.