On Monday 9 December, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, reaffirmed the EU’s determination to accede to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. While 46 countries, including the 27 EU Member States, are party to the Convention, the Union as an organisation is not.
“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the EU remains committed to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights”, Ms Kallas said in a statement.
Accession would enable individuals to bring complaints against the EU before the European Court of Human Rights, and would allow the EU to be heard there. However, the Court of Justice of the EU issued an unfavourable opinion on this accession project in 2014, concluding that it was incompatible with the EU Treaties.
On Monday, Ms Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s “unwavering commitment” to “the universal respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights for everyone, everywhere” on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on 10 December since 1948, the date on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)