24/06/2025 Session | European Convention on Human Rights
“If state parties consider that the European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols no longer reflect their requirements for the proper protection of human rights, then the mechanisms for changing it are available – and they don’t include an attack on the Court,” said Lord Keen (United Kingdom, ECPA), opening a current affairs debate today on the topic The European Court of Human Rights: rising to the challenges of our times. “State Parties can promote a further instrument to the Convention which reflects what they regard as current attitudes to migration.”
Lord Keen said the recent open letter from nine European prime ministers inviting reflection on the Court’s rulings in the field of migration was not intended as "an attempt to undermine the Court” or as an attack on its independence or impartiality. “It was an expression of exasperation with the migration issues perceived to be overwhelming many state parties to the Convention.”
The President of the European Court of Human Rights Mattias Guyomar also took part in the debate. He focused on the three priorities of his three-year mandate: efficiency, visibility, and responsibility — all framed under the principle of shared responsibility, with the Court working with national authorities and the courts of the 46 Council of Europe member states. He underlined that the Court’s role embodies the principle of the separation of powers—grounded in balance and complementarity among the three branches of power.
Some 20 other members took part in the debate. No text is adopted following a current affairs debate