Council of Europe rejects Cyprus’ list of ECHR judge candidates

The Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe has recommended rejecting the list of candidates submitted by Cyprus for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

According to a decision made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the committee on the election of judges to the ECHR conducted interviews with all the candidates on 16 September.

It concluded that the list should be rejected for substantial reasons, as not all candidates met the requirements outlined in Article 21 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which sets the criteria for the election of judges to the ECHR. The committee has requested the Cypriot government to submit a new list of candidates.

PACE is responsible for electing judges to the ECHR, thereby giving them democratic legitimacy. Once the list of candidates is received, the committee on the election of judges, a specialised parliamentary body composed of members with legal expertise, evaluates the fairness and transparency of the national selection process.

It also interviews each candidate and reviews their resumes to assess whether all three candidates are suitably qualified for the position.

If the committee determines that the conditions have been met, it recommends to the assembly which candidates are the strongest. However, if the requirements are not fulfilled, it can request a new list of candidates from the member state.

Following the conclusion of Cypriot Judge Giorgos Serghides’ term at the ECHR, President Nikos Christodoulides submitted a list of three candidates, based on the recommendation of a special committee appointed by the Council of Ministers.