Reinforcement of the independence of the European Court of Human Rights

Recommendation 2051 (2014)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 27 June 2014 (27th Sitting) (see Doc. 13524, report of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, rapporteur: Mr Boriss Cilevičs). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27 June 2014 (27th Sitting).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 2009 (2014) on the reinforcement of the independence of the European Court of Human Rights and invites the Committee of Ministers to:

1.1 encourage member States who have not yet done so to ratify the Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe (ETS No. 162);

1.2 in so far as social security and retirement pensions of judges are concerned, review present arrangements with a view to offering judges more flexibility;

1.3 in so far as the status of judges at the end of their term of office is concerned, actively pursue the recent initiative it has taken in this respect and ensure that follow-up is provided by States, as appropriate, at the national level.

2. The Assembly stresses that the independence and authority of the Court are contingent on the political will and commitment of all member States, in particular through the Organisation’s executive organ, to ensure that the Court is provided with the financial means to effectively implement its human rights mandate.