ECtHR launches network for the exchange of case-law information with national superior courts

The European Court of Human Rights President Dean Spielmann has launched a network for the exchange of information on the case-law of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights.

The initiative, which was announced at the opening of the 2015 judicial year and welcomed by the Council of Europe member states in the Declaration adopted at the Brussels Conference organised in March 2015 in the context of the Belgian chairmanship of the council of Europe, is designed to promote the exchange of information between the court and the national superior courts.

The focal points for the exchange will be the research departments of the superior courts and the Jurisconsult of the European Court of Human Rights.

The French Court of Cassation, represented by its President, Bertrand Louvel, and the French Conseil d’État, represented by Mr Bernard Stirn, President of the Judicial Division, were the first courts to sign up to the network, in a ceremony attended by numerous judicial figures.

Several European superior courts have already announced their intention to join the network over the coming months.

President Spielmann said that this new form of cooperation between the ECtHR and national superior courts reflected shared responsibility in implementing the ECHR.

He added that it would help ensure that the decisions handed down were consistent with European case-law.