The CDDH ad hoc negotiation group (“47+1”) on EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights held its 10th meeting from 29 June – 2 July 2021. Due to the COVID-pandemic, the meeting was held as a hybrid meeting (i.e. with delegates participating both in the meeting room and via video-conference). In total, more than 80 delegates participated. The Group discussed proposals related to the EU’s specific mechanism of the procedure before the European Court of Human Rights, the operation of inter-party applications (Article 33 of the Convention) and the principle of mutual trust between EU member states. 

In the course of this meeting, the Group held another exchange of views with civil society (including representatives from the AIRE (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) Centre, Amnesty International, the Council of Bars and Law Societies in Europe (CCBE), the International Commission of Jurists and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI)). The exchange of views focused in particular on the principle of mutual trust between the EU member states as well as the situation of EU acts in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy that are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Group will hold its next meeting from 5-8 October 2021.

The CDDH ad hoc negotiation group (“47+1”) on EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights held its 9^th meeting from 23-25 March 2021 via videoconference. The Group discussed in particular proposals related to Article 53 of the Convention, the principle of mutual trust between the EU member states as well as the situation of EU acts in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy that are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union. In total, more than 108 delegates participated. The next meeting is scheduled for 29 June – 2 July 2021.

The CDDH ad hoc negotiation group (“47+1”) on EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights held its 8^th meeting from 2-4 February 2021 via videoconference. The Group discussed in particular proposals related to the EU’s specific mechanism of the procedure before the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the operation of inter-party applications (Article 33 of the Convention) and of requests for advisory opinions under Protocol No. 16 to the Convention. In total, more than 110 delegates participated.

The CDDH ad hoc negotiation group (“47+1 Group”) on the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights held its 7th meeting from 24 to 26 November 2020. Due to the COVID-pandemic, the meeting was held via videoconference. The meeting report can be downloaded below.

The CDDH ad hoc negotiation group (“47+1 Group”) on the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights held its 6th meeting from 29 September to 1 October 2020. Due to the COVID-pandemic, the meeting was held as a hybrid meeting (i.e. with delegates participating both in the meeting room and via videoconference). The meeting report can be downloaded below.

On 22 June 2020, the ad hoc group of the Steering Committee on Human Rights of the Council of Europe in charge of negotiating EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (“the 47+1 Group”) held an informal virtual meeting. It was organised and chaired by Ms Tonje Meinich (Norway), Chair of the “47+1 Group”. Mr Christos Giakoumopoulos (Director General Human Rights and Rule of Law) and Ambassador Meglena Kuneva (Head of the European Union Delegation to the Council of Europe) made opening addresses at the meeting. The Group also heard a presentation by the European Commission of its position paper on EU accession to the Convention, and held a general round of statements, comments and questions by delegations.

For more information, go to:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-intergovernmental-cooperation/accession-of-the-european-union-to-the-european-convention-on-human-rights

In the wake of the measures applied by the Council of Europe with a view to preventing the further spread of the Corona virus, it was decided to cancel the start of the new round of negotiations on EU Accession to the European Convention on Human Rights scheduled to take place on 24 March. A new date will be set as soon as circumstances permit.

Negotiations on EU Accession to the Convention will be resumed in Strasbourg on 24 March 2020.

More information can be found under the “EU Accession” tab of this blog and on the following page:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-intergovernmental-cooperation/accession-of-the-european-union-to-the-european-convention-on-human-rights

On 8 October 2019, the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council mandated the European Commission to quickly resume negotiations with the Council of Europe with a view to allowing the EU to accede to the Convention, pursuant to Article 6(2) TEU. The following statement was thereby issued:

“The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the EU’saccession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The Council agreed to supplementary negotiating directives in order to allow for a swift resumption of the negotiations with the Council of Europe. Those amended negotiating directives are designed to take into account the Court of Justice’s opinion of 2014.

Negotiations on an agreement with the Council of Europe started in 2010. In 2013, a draft agreement was submitted by the Commission to the Court of Justice for an opinion on its compatibility with the EU treaties. At the end of 2014, the Court stated that the draft agreement was not compatible with the treaties on a number of points. In October 2015, the Council reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to accede to the ECHR and invited the Commission to work on an analysis of all legal issues raised by the Court. Last May, the Commission submitted to the Council a written contribution which comprehensively addresses all of the objections raised by the Court of Justice.

The Treaty on European Union provides for the accession of the EU to the ECHR. The objective is to reinforce the common values of the Union, improve the effectiveness of EU law and enhance the coherence of fundamental rights protection in Europe. “

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2019/10/07-08/