The Application of the Echr in the Domestic Systems

Abstract

According to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), unlike classic international treaties, the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) "comprises more than mere reciprocal engagements between contracting States. It creates, over and above, a network of mutual, bilateral undertakings, objective obligations which, in the words of the Preamble, benefit from a "collective enforcement". 1 From Article 1 of the Convention, in particular, it follows that "the primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Convention is laid on the national authorities", 2 and especially on national courts, whose role in making the ECHR effective in domestic legal orders is of the utmost importance. 3 By ratifying the ECHR, the Contracting States undertake to ensure that their domestic legislation is compatible with it. 4 So, a breach of the ECHR can result from the mere existence of a law which introduces, directs or authorizes measures incompatible with the minimum standard of protection guaranteed by the Convention. Nonetheless, in order to establish that this minimum standard has been violated, reference should be made to the manner national authorities interpret and apply in concreto the Convention. The absence of a law expressly prohibiting a violation is not sufficient in itself to establish a breach since such a prohibition does not represent the sole method of securing the enjoyment of the rights and * While the authors equally share the responsibility for the entire essay, section 1 is by Nicola Napoletano and section 2 is by Andrea Caligiuri.

Discrimination based on Place of Residence in Recent Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights with Emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…Consequently, the jurisprudence of the ECtHR is bound to follow the special status of the Convention in interpretation and application of the Convention provisions and principles in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 36 Such position holds a potential that may be used in the strengthening of the rule of law. 37 In the reasoning of the judgment in the Baralija case, the ECtHR concludes, in paragraph 62, that the core issue, in this case, is the failure of the State to implement a final and binding decision adopted by the Constitutional Court of B&H. Deliberating on that matter, the ECtHR notes that such practice "…would be likely to lead to situations that were incompatible with the principle of the rule of law which the Contracting States undertook to respect when they ratified the Convention...".…”

Europos Tarybos Kuriama Pridėtinė Vertė Administracinei Teisei: Bendrų Europinių Gero Administravimo Nuostatų Vystymas Ir Jų Reikšmė Europos Tarybos Valstybių Narių Nacionalinei Teisei

“…Kitais žodžiais tariant: ginčų ateityje siekiančios išvengti valstybės narės turėtų atsižvelgti ir paisyti prieš kitas valstybes EŽTT priimtų sprendimų. Kai kurių akademikų teigimu, tam tikrais atvejais prieš kitas valstybes priimtų sprendimų nepaisymas gali prilygti valstybės narės sutartinių įsipareigojimų nevykdymui gera valia 27 . Kaip yra pažymėjęs ir pats EŽTT, valstybių narių teismai nacionalinės teisės nuostatas turėtų aiškinti remdamiesi Konvencija 28 .…”