Documents from the Council of Europe
Thematic Factsheet
The Execution Department issued a new thematic factsheet focusing on the execution of ECHR judgments concerning freedom of expression. As underlined by the European Court, freedom of expression is one of the primary conditions for the progress of a democratic society and for the development of each individual. It implies pluralism, tolerance and openness, without which there is no democratic society, leaving little room for restrictions on this freedom notably in two areas: political speech and matters of public interest.
HUDOC-EXEC (based on the HUDOC-ECHR system), provides access to relevant information and documentation in all cases pending before the Committee of Ministers, as well as in cases closed by a final resolution, via a single unified interface. Searches can be made using a multitude of search criteria as State, date, status of execution, violation, theme etc.
Annual Reports on Implementation
The Committee of Ministers’ annual report presents the status of execution of the main judgments of the European Court of Human Rights by the member States of the Council of Europe. It also provides statistics and information on new cases, cases pending or closed during the year.
Committee of Ministers (CM)
The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe’s statutory decision-making body. It is made up of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of member States and their deputies. The CM monitors implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
Rules of the Committee of Ministers for the supervision of the execution of judgments and of the terms of friendly settlements, adopted on 10 May 2006 and amended on 18 January 2017.
Committee of Ministers iGuide on procedures and working methods
Further information on the Rules and Working Methods of the Committee of Ministers
Brussels Declaration on the “Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, our shared responsibility”
CM Recommendations relating to implementation:
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
The parliamentarians who make up the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe come from the national parliaments of the Council of Europe 47 member states. They meet four times a year to discuss topical issues and ask European governments to take initiatives and report back.
Reports of PACE rapporteurs on the implementation of judgments:
9th Report on the Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, by Mr Pierre-Yves Le Borgn, 2017
8th Report on the Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, by Mr Klaas de Vries, 2015
Report on the Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, Mr Christos Pourgourides, 2010
PACE Resolutions and Recommendations relating to the implementation of judgments:
Resolution 2178 (2017)
Recommendation 2110 (2017)
Recommendation 2079 (2015)
Resolution 2075 (2015)
Recommendations 1955 (2011)
Resolution 1823 (2011)
Resolution 1787 (2011)
Resolution 1516 (2006)
Resolution 1226 (2000)
Other PACE publications:
"The implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights", publication incl. the 9th Report with a Foreword by Mr Pierre-Yves Le Borgn, Feb 2018 (extract) - The full version of this report can be found online on the Council of Europe online bookshop.
"Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in States Parties: selected examples" - report produced by PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, 2017
Commissioner for Human Rights
The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial non-judicial institution established in 1999 by Council of Europe to promote awareness of and respect for human rights in the 47 Council of Europe member states.
Relevant publications include:
"Non-implementation of the Court’s judgments: our shared responsibility", by Nils Muižnieks (August 2016)
Venice Commission
The European Commission for Democracy through Law - better known as the Venice Commission as it meets in Venice - is the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters.
Relevant publications include:
Comments on PACE Recommendation 2110 (2017) on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights