Fraternal Twins: The European Union and the Council of Europe

Abstract

This book chapter starts with examining the formal status of the European Union (EU) within the Council of Europe (CoE) by looking at the legal fundamentals in both the CoE Statute and the EU Treaties. It goes on to describe the evolution of the relationship of both organisations, leading to an assessment of the status quo. Against this background, the accession of the EU to the CoE’s most important convention, the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), is analysed. Finally, the chapter attempts to sketch the ‘international identity’ of the EU within the CoE.

Keywords: European Union, Council of Europe, External Relations, Accession, European Convention of Human Rights