CHRONICLE OF AN ACCESSION FORETOLD: SOME NOTES ON THE NEGOTIATION OF THE EU ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The article discusses some key challenges arising from EU accession to the ECHR, a process that has been officially opened after EU reform (Lisbon Treaty) and the ECHR reform (Protocol n.(o) 14). These challenges include the respect for the division of competences between the EU and its Member States, the principle of autonomy of the EU and EU participation in the supervisory bodies of the ECHR. The article describes and interprets the steps taken so far, the positions taken by the Commission and the European Parliament, the negotiating directives approved in the EU and some of the major remaining obstacles on the road.