Introduction

Abstract

‘Fundamental rights at the heart of policy making’ was the title of a press release sent from the newsroom of the European Commission in April 2012 (Commission 2012b), illustrating the increasing prominence of fundamental rights within the European Union (EU). This fact is reflected, most importantly, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in force and legally binding for over two years now. With the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, EU member states obliged the EU to accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) of the Council of Europe (COE). To this end, the European Commission (henceforward, Commission) and the COE kicked off joint talks on the EU’s accession to the ECHR in July 2010. Two years later, technical negotiations have concluded and a draft accession agreement has been drawn up. However, the accession process is still far from the finish line: the accession, based on an international treaty among all 47 COE member states, will only enter into force upon ratification by all parties, which — this goes without saying — is a rather lengthy process.