In a new statement, ENNHRI urges Council of Europe member States to ensure that their upcoming Political Declaration on Migration respects and affirms the human rights of all individuals in Europe. At the same time, it must protect the integrity of the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) and the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention) system. The adoption of the final Declaration is expected on 15 May.

Protecting the human rights of all in Europe and the system that underpins this

Adopted by ENNHRI’s members at today’s General Assembly meeting, the statement calls for the eventual Declaration to protect the Court’s independence and support the effective protection and universality of all rights set out in the Convention.

ENNHRI welcomes an open and constructive debate, based on strong legal and factual foundations, on issues of migration and human rights within the Council of Europe framework.

In turn, ENNHRI calls on governments to express their support for the independence of the Court in the Declaration. It stresses that the Declaration should not attempt to influence how the Court interprets or applies the Convention. Nor should it be an instrument to facilitate interference with the independence of national courts.

ENNHRI further stresses that the strength of the Convention system lies in its universal application: it works to protect the rights of all. The Court and its interpretation of the Convention have always adapted to address new challenges and balanced individual rights with the public interest. This includes security, border control and migration management measures.

NHRI expertise essential for ongoing process

Across Europe, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) work to implement the rights enshrined in the Convention. ENNHRI calls on member States to draw on this expertise and consult closely with NHRIs when negotiating the Political Declaration, as well as with civil society. This should form part of a transparent process to finalise the text.

With expert-level discussions over, negotiations now move to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. It is expected to adopt the final Political Declaration at an extraordinary meeting in Chişinău on 15 May.

Full information and ENNHRI’s engagement so far

Read the statement adopted today by ENNHRI’s General Assembly.

ENNHRI joined recent discussions at the Committee of Ministers on the Political Declaration as an observer, giving written input.

It has also released statements on the matters at hand as they have developed:

• Read a June 2025 statement in response to an open letter by nine governments on the Court and migration.
• Read a December 2025 statement to inform the Council of Europe informal Ministerial Conference on the European Convention for Human Rights and Migration.