Council of Europe responds to joint letter challenging ECtHR
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has issued a response to the 22 May 2025 joint letter issued by nine Member States which criticises the role and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The joint letter was initiated by Denmark and Italy and includes Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The letter addresses concerns regarding the ECtHR’s interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly in relation to migration. In his responding statement Berset affirms that the Court, established by the Member States, must remain independent and immune to political pressure in order to continue protecting fundamental rights effectively. The statement also highlights the Court’s crucial role in upholding the Convention’s principles, especially amid the challenges posed by the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.