Change in procedures for making an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

On 1 February 2022, the time limit within which an application can be made to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) following a final ruling at national level was cut from six months to four months.

This reduced time limit applies to all domestic rulings issued from this date onwards.

It follows the entry into force of Article 4 of Protocol No. 15 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on 1 August 2021, after it was ratified by all of the Council of Europe member states.

The Protocol also introduced into the Convention’s preamble an explicit reference to the principle of subsidiarity of the Court’s review and to the doctrine of the margin of appreciation of States, which have a primary responsibility to guarantee respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed by the Convention.