Advisory opinions
Advisory opinions under Protocol No. 16
Advisory opinions delivered
Armenia
The Court delivered its advisory opinion in reply to a request from the Armenian Constitutional Court on 29 May 2020.
The case concerned the interpretation of an article of the Armenian Penal Code making it a criminal offence to overthrow the constitutional order and its application under Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the Convention, in the context of proceedings against the former President Robert Kocharyan.
France
In response to the first request for an advisory opinion under Protocol No. 16 to the Convention, from the French Court of Cassation, the Court delivered its opinion on 10 April 2019.
The Court held that States are not obliged to register the details of the birth certificate of a child born through gestational surrogacy abroad in order to establish the legal parent-child relationship with the intended mother, as adoption may serve as a means of recognising that relationship.
Requests for advisory opinion accepted
Lithuania
On 28 January 2021 the Court has accepted the request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania concerning the legislation on impeachment, at issue in a case pending before that court.
Requests for advisory opinion rejected
Slovakia
The Court has decided to reject the request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Slovak Supreme Court concerning the independence of the current mechanism for assessing complaints against the police.
The ECHR considered that the points raised did not concern an issue for which the Slovak Supreme Court required guidance so that it could ensure respect for Convention rights in hearing and determining the case in question.
Protocol No. 16 to the Convention
Protocol No. 16 to the Convention allows the highest courts and tribunals of a State Party to request the Court to give advisory opinions on questions of principle relating to the interpretation or application of the rights and freedoms defined in the Convention or the protocols thereto.
Protocol No. 16 came into force on 1 August 2018 in respect of the States which have signed and ratified it.
Protocol No. 16 Explanatory report
Guidelines: English French Armenian
Extract from the Rules of Court
Opinion of the Court (May 2013)
Explanatory report (Translation commissioned by the Italian Government)
Advisory opinions - Article 47 of the Convention
Advisory opinion on certain legal questions concerning the lists of candidates submitted with a view to the election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights
Advisory opinion (no.2) (22/01/2010)
Advisory opinion (no.1) (12/02/2008)
Decision on the competence of the court to give an advisory opinion
Advisory opinions - Other texts
Request for an advisory opinion from the Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics under Article 29 of the Oviedo Convention.