Overview
- A coalition of over half the Council of Europe’s 46 members endorsed an unofficial call to narrow the interpretation of Articles 3 and 8 to enable more removals and cooperation with third countries.
- Ministers agreed to prepare a political declaration next year after the secretary general said every member reaffirmed support for the European Convention on Human Rights and its court.
- UK leaders pressed the case, with Keir Starmer and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen urging an updated approach and David Lammy arguing in Strasbourg for constrained thresholds in deportation cases.
- Deep splits remain, as countries including France, Germany and Spain declined to sign the tougher text and instead backed the separate formal statement supported by all members.
- Rights groups and the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner warned against diluting absolute protections, particularly under Article 3, and questioned claims that reinterpretation would reduce irregular migration.