European Court of Human Rights: Selection of Judges

HL Deb 18 June 1999 vol 602 c54WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to promote open, consistent and fair procedures for the election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [HL2898]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We believe that there is nothing wrong in principle with the current selection procedures for judges to the European Court. Under Protocol 11, the selection of judges is a matter for the Parliamentary Assembly and therefore it is for the assembly to determine its own election procedures. To be effective, these procedures rely on member states putting forward high calibre candidates for selection. The Government have adopted an open and transparent procedure for the selection of candidates from the United Kingdom.