Latest news with #Berset
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Council of Europe Chief Rejects Calls to Make ECHR More Flexible on Immigration
The Council of Europe's secretary general, Alain Berset, has rejected calls from EU leaders to make the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) more flexible on immigration. Nine EU countries signed an On May 24, Berset said in a The Council of Europe (CoE) was established in 1949 to promote democracy, protect human rights, and uphold the rule of law in Europe. It also monitors member states' progress in adhering to its human rights standards. Its best-known convention is the ECHR. The European Court of Human Rights oversees how it is implemented. The letter, organized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, and co-signed by leaders such as Poland's Donald Tusk, said that the court 'posed too many limitations on the states' ability to decide whom to expel from their territories' in terms of the deportation of criminal foreign nationals. Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania also signed the letter requesting 'a new and open minded conversation about the interpretation' of the ECHR. The letter said the scope has extended 'too far as compared with the original intentions behind the Convention, thus shifting the balance between the interests which should be protected.' Related Stories 5/2/2025 11/8/2024 Berset dismissed the letter and said that 'debate is healthy, but politicizing the Court is not.' He said: 'Institutions that protect fundamental rights cannot bend to political cycles. If they do, we risk eroding the very stability they were built to ensure. The Court must not be weaponized—neither against governments, nor by them.' Europe is hardening its Illegal immigrants are entering the EU primarily via Mediterranean sea crossings from North Africa and by overland routes through Poland and the Balkans, according to data from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Illegal crossings are usually arranged by organized criminal networks and smugglers. Under pressure from parties with strong anti-illegal immigration platforms, establishment political parties have steadily abandoned their previous immigration stances and supported the reintroduction of Under the EU's Pact on Migration and Asylum, member states are looking to strike agreements with non-EU states to handle asylum claims extraterritorially, potentially setting up processing centers in North Africa or beyond. On While no third countries have been chosen yet, in 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen In April, Italy became the first EU state to successfully send illegal immigrants beyond the bloc's borders, after its first three attempts were blocked by national and European courts. Meloni's By adding Albania to its own safe third-country list and rebranding detention centers as 'repatriation hubs,' Italy bypassed a European Court of Justice ban. On April 14, Italy sent 40 illegal immigrants to the Italian-run centers in Albania.
Euronews
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Council of Europe rejects political pressure on ECHR in Meloni reply
"Debate is healthy, but politicising the Court is not. In a society governed by the rule of law, no judicial body should be subject to political pressure," Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said in a statement on Saturday. The Council of Europe's reply is in response to the letter that Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's government signed together with eight other European countries calling for an amendment to the European Convention on Human Rights. "On 22 May 2025, at the initiative of Denmark and Italy, nine member states of the Council of Europe - including Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - published a joint letter calling for a 'new and open conversation' on how the European Court of Human Rights interprets the European Convention on Human Rights," writes Berset in the message. "Their concern relates to judgments on migration. These are complex challenges and democracies must always remain open to reflection through the appropriate institutional channels. But clarity is essential,' Berset explains. The secretary then states that the European Court of Human Rights is not an external body. It is the legal arm of the Council of Europe - created by the member states, established by sovereign choice and bound by a Convention that all 46 members have freely signed and ratified. "It exists to protect the rights and values they have pledged to defend. The defence of the Court's independence and impartiality is our foundation," Berset adds. "Debate is healthy, but politicising the Court is not. In a society governed by the rule of law, no judicial body should be subject to political pressure. Institutions that protect fundamental rights cannot bend to political cycles. " "If they do, we risk eroding the stability that they themselves must guarantee,' the secretary writes: 'The Court must not be used as a weapon, neither against governments, nor by them'. Berset then recalls that in 2025 the Convention will be 75 years old and that the Court has brought its principles to life, guiding European states through threats to judicial independence, political turmoil and even war. "The European Court of Human Rights is the only international court that judges human rights violations in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. This should never be compromised," Berset adds. "In facing today's complex challenges, our task is not to weaken the Convention, but to keep it strong and relevant - to ensure that freedom and security, justice and accountability, are kept in balance. This is the legacy we receive. And it is the duty we share,' the letter concludes.
25-05-2025
- Politics
Council of Europe defends human rights court against criticism over expulsions
ROME -- The Council of Europe on Saturday defended the independence of the European Court of Human Rights, after nine member states said its interpretation of rights obligations prevented them from expelling migrants who commit crimes. The leaders of Denmark, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in a joint letter made public Thursday called for a 'new and open-minded conversation' about how the court interprets the European Convention on Human Rights. 'Their concern centres on rulings in the field of migration,' Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset said in a statement. 'These are complex challenges, and democracies must always remain open to reflection through the appropriate institutional avenues.' However, Berset stressed that the European Court of Human Rights 'is not an external body' but the legal arm of the Council of Europe, and is "bound by a Convention that all 46 members have freely signed and ratified.' 'It exists to protect the rights and values they committed to defend,' he said. 'Upholding the independence and impartiality of the Court is our bedrock.' He warned against politicizing the court. The nine European leaders said the court's interpretation of the convention in cases concerning the expulsion of "criminal foreign nationals' has protected the 'wrong people' and placed too many limits on deciding who can be expelled. The Council of Europe is not an EU institution and was set up in the wake of the Second World War to promote peace and democracy.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
European court denies overreaching on asylum and immigration
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has hit back at criticism that it is overreaching its original remit on asylum and immigration. Alain Berset, the secretary general of the Council of Europe (CoE), which oversees and enforces ECHR rulings, said the court should not be 'politicised' or 'face political pressure' after nine CoE member states challenged its interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. 'Institutions that protect fundamental rights cannot bend to political cycles,' he wrote in a statement. 'If they do, we risk eroding the very stability they were built to ensure.' Earlier this month, Italy and Denmark urged other European countries to sign a letter criticising the Strasbourg court for tying national lawmakers' hands with migration issues. The letter said the court was making it difficult to 'make political decisions in our own democracies', according to the EurActiv website, which first obtained a copy. It called for a 'new and open-minded conversation' about how the court interprets the convention. The letter was ultimately signed by nine CoE member states, including Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The court is not an EU body, but part of the larger and older Council of Europe, of which Britain is also a member. All 27 EU member states belong to the 46-state human rights watchdog and are signatories to the convention. Mr Berset admitted that the issue of migration is a 'complex challenge' and that 'democracies must always remain open to reflection', but urged caution in how such discussions are approached. 'Clarity about the role of the institution is essential,' he said, noting that all 46 member states had 'freely signed and ratified' the convention. 'It exists to protect the rights and values they committed to defend,' he continued. 'Upholding the independence and impartiality of the court is our bedrock. 'The court has brought its principles to life, guiding European states through threats to judicial independence, political turmoil, even war.' Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to limit judges' powers to block migrant deportations using the convention earlier this month. The Prime Minister has held talks on illegal migration with Giorgia Meloni, Italy's hard-Right prime minister, and Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister, since his election last year. But Sir Keir has ruled out leaving the European Court of Human Rights, having previously said doing so would represent a 'betrayal' of Britain's role in the drafting of the convention. 'We will never withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. Churchill himself was among the chief architects of the Convention,' he said, speaking at Blenheim Palace in July 2024. On Saturday, a new paper from Policy Exchange questioned the view that the European Convention on Human Rights is a 'British legacy', and disputed claims that leaving the Convention would constitute a 'betrayal' of Sir Winston Churchill. The report argues that, while Britain helped draft the convention, its modern form is far removed from the limited safeguard against fascism and communism originally envisioned by the government. The report was backed by Lord Jonathan Sumption, former Supreme Court Justice, and historian Andrew Roberts, Baron Roberts of Belgravia. 'Invoking the memory of Churchill to support the ECHR, or to oppose UK withdrawal from it, is either base opportunism or basic historical misunderstanding,' wrote Lord Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny. 'The historical record matters and the memory of Churchill should not be weaponised for political advantage, not least in service of a cause that he would have viewed as wholly incompatible with parliamentary democracy and the prerogatives of the nation state.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Council of Europe defends human rights court against criticism over expulsions
ROME (AP) — The Council of Europe on Saturday defended the independence of the European Court of Human Rights, after nine member states said its interpretation of rights obligations prevented them from expelling migrants who commit crimes. The leaders of Denmark, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in a joint letter made public Thursday called for a 'new and open-minded conversation' about how the court interprets the European Convention on Human Rights. 'Their concern centres on rulings in the field of migration,' Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset said in a statement. 'These are complex challenges, and democracies must always remain open to reflection through the appropriate institutional avenues.' However, Berset stressed that the European Court of Human Rights 'is not an external body' but the legal arm of the Council of Europe, and is 'bound by a Convention that all 46 members have freely signed and ratified.' 'It exists to protect the rights and values they committed to defend,' he said. 'Upholding the independence and impartiality of the Court is our bedrock.' He warned against politicizing the court. The nine European leaders said the court's interpretation of the convention in cases concerning the expulsion of 'criminal foreign nationals' has protected the 'wrong people' and placed too many limits on deciding who can be expelled. The Council of Europe is not an EU institution and was set up in the wake of the Second World War to promote peace and democracy. ___ Follow AP's global migration coverage at
