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The Council of Europe (CoE) has rejected Cyprus’s nominees for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stating that not all candidates met the necessary qualifications. After interviews on September 16, the CoE's committee in charge of electing judges recommended that Cyprus submit a new list of nominees.
In response, Cyprus's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Theodoros Gotsis, explained that the country’s selection process had been deemed appropriate by a separate CoE Committee of Experts. He stressed that all three candidates proposed by Cyprus met the required criteria, and the rejection didn’t reflect negatively on their qualifications or the selection process. Gotsis noted that Cyprus is awaiting a formal explanation of the decision and will respond appropriately before possibly submitting a revised list.
The CoE follows a standard procedure where both the selection process and the qualifications of nominees are reviewed. While Cyprus’s own committee approved the candidates, the final decision rests with the CoE’s Parliamentary Assembly, which elects judges to the ECHR.
The rejection follows the end of the term of Cypriot judge George Sergides, prompting Cyprus to propose new candidates. However, the CoE committee found that not all nominees met the standards set by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Gotsis reiterated that the rejection came after interviews, and does not necessarily reflect poorly on the candidates. Cyprus will await further details and proceed with the necessary steps to fill the position.
