Countdown to Chișinău: the risk of politicising the ECHR over migration

It is ironic that Ministers of Justice of the 46 Council of Europe member states convened on International Human Rights Day (December 10 2025) to discuss how they might reduce the scope of their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. Rather than a much-needed discussion about the effectiveness of the system, for the first time in the history of the CoE, a group of 27 states issued a Joint Statement proposing to diminish the rights of a particular cohort of the population – migrants, broadly conceived – framed as a matter of safeguarding national security and protecting democracy.

The meeting launched an intergovernmental process which will culminate in a ministerial meeting in May 2026, but for some capitals the outcome seems predetermined: to restrict certain migrants’ rights and empower states to pursue even more restrictive measures. Whether states will approach the coming months in the inclusive and evidence-based manner as has been advised (also here and here) remains to be seen, but there are significant risks which require immediate attention to avoid a slippery slope.

Below, we outline what happened on 10 December in Strasbourg, why it matters and what governments should consider as they embark on what could become a one-way journey with significant consequences far beyond the issue of migration.