Visit to the European Court of Human Rights

On Monday 12 October 2026, a delegation from the Court of Justice of the European Union visited the European Court of Human Rights. The delegation was led by Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice, and Thomas von Danwitz, Vice-President.

This visit took place in the context of the regular contact between the Courts, on both a judicial and an administrative level.

The programme began with a welcome address by Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights, followed by a reply by President Lenaerts.

The representatives of both Courts then took part in a number of working sessions, covering

• independence of the judiciary, in particular in the context of restoration of the rule of law
• protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in the area of sport
• the role of values in the ECHR system and in the EU system of fundamental rights protection

These sessions provided an opportunity for the participants to engage in discussions, exchange views and share their respective experiences on matters of common interest.