The head of the Council of Europe, the continent’s top human rights body, on Saturday criticized a proposal by nine European countries to make it easier to expel foreign criminals.
Secretary General Alain Berset said in a statement that political pressure on the judiciary threatens the rule of law and could erode the stability such institutions are meant to ensure.
“In a society governed by the rule of law, no judiciary should face political pressure,” Berset said. “Institutions that protect fundamental rights cannot bend to political cycles. The court must not be weaponized — neither against governments, nor by them.”
Italy and Denmark are leading the initiative, which was detailed in a letter drafted ahead of a meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday. The letter urges a review of how courts interpret the European Convention on Human Rights to allow member states more control over deporting criminal foreign nationals.
The European Court of Human Rights has faced criticism from some governments for using the Convention to block deportations. The letter argues that this interpretation has at times protected individuals who pose a threat and imposed excessive limits on states’ abilities to expel foreigners.
Berset said the Court’s role is to protect the rights and values of member states. “Upholding the independence and impartiality of the Court is our bedrock,” he said.
