Accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights

Reply to Written question | Doc. 13239 | 24 June 2013

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1174th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (19 June 2013). 2013 - Third part-session

Reply to Written question

: Written question no. 627 (Doc. 13139)

1. The Committee of Ministers reaffirms its commitment to the process of accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights. It recalls that European Union accession is essential to complete the construction of a coherent area of protection of human rights throughout the European continent.

2. The Committee of Ministers is pleased to inform the Honourable Parliamentarian that the negotiations relating to the accession agreement pursued with the European Union within the framework of an ad hoc group “47+1” under the umbrella of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) resulted in an agreement at the negotiators’ level on the draft texts in April 2013. The group has reported to the CDDH, which will be meeting in June. The CDDH will report on the progress to the Committee of Ministers.

3. Adoption of the draft instruments is subject to the completion of internal procedures by the parties. As far as the European Union is concerned, the European Court of Justice will be asked for an opinion on the draft accession agreement. This consultation might take some time. After that, the Council of the European Union will have to adopt unanimously the decision authorising the signature of the accession agreement, which is conditional on political agreement on the European Union’s internal rules. The Committee will keep the Parliamentary Assembly informed about any developments as regards this file to which it gives the highest priority.

4. Once the texts have been submitted to the Committee of Ministers, the latter will decide on the further procedure to be followed. The Parliamentary Assembly and the European Court of Human Rights should be consulted in due course.