Cover EU Accession to ECHR final
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12
December
2025

EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights - Questions and answers on legal and operational implications

As the EU prepares to join the European Convention Human Rights (ECHR), this report outlines the main changes that accession would bring, offering an overview of the legal and operational implications. Presented in a Q&A format, it provides answers to 19 key questions for legal professionals and a broader audience. It describes the steps needed to conclude accession, the expected benefits for protecting rights, and some of the challenges that may come up. This legal analysis contributes to the current discussions on EU accession.


Introduction

This document considers the legal and operational implications of the EU’s accession to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly known as the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). It encompasses the relevant aspects of the relationship between EU and ECHR legal protection for human rights in Europe. It also includes some framing questions about the relationship between ECHR law and EU law that offer some broader legal context to accession. It is intended for a general legal audience and does not purport to offer expert analysis or a comprehensive appraisal of the issues. It is based on a compilation of the official data and pronouncements of the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), drawing upon relevant case-law.