Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights Enters into Force (August 1, 2018) [1]
On August 1, 2018, the Protocol No. 16 [3] to the European Convention on Human Rights entered into force for the ten member states that have signed and ratified it: Albania, Armenia, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Lithuania, San Marino, Slovenia and Ukraine. As noted in the press release [4], “Protocol No. 16 enables the highest national courts and tribunals, as designated by the member States concerned, to request the Court to give advisory opinions on questions of principle relating to the interpretation or application of the rights and freedoms defined in the Convention or the Protocols thereto. The advisory opinions, which will be delivered by the Grand Chamber, will contain reasons and will not be binding.” The Court will also have discretion on whether or not to accept a request from national courts and tribunals.