Tamás Sulyok: Foreword (ABSz, 2022. Különszám, 3. o.)

In this issue of the Alkotmánybírósági Szemle (Constitutional Court Review), you can read studies commissioned by the Constitutional Court of Hungary (hereinafter: HCC) on the practical examination of references to foreign constitutional courts in the case-law of the Constitutional Courts of the Member States of the European Union.

The HCC celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2020. The anniversary also provided an opportunity to assess the situation and tasks of constitutional courts and constitutional administration, and the general challenges facing these bodies. Among these, I believe that the extent to which the individual constitutional courts use the case law of other constitutional courts as a source in their reasoning of decisions, occupies a prominent place.

In its decision taken in 2016, the HCC took a position in favour of the dialogue based on international cooperation and cooperation with other constitutional courts "in the framework of mutual respect based on the principles of equality and collegiality". As President of the HCC, I have expressed on several occasions, in a number of contributions, my view that dialogue and cooperation between the institutions is the key to a successful future.

I believe it is important to emphasise that I do not see cooperation as an end in itself, but as a dialogue aimed at promoting the development of common European constitutional values and effective cooperation between constitutional courts in the European area.