On 6 March 2026, a delegation of six Judges from the European Court of Human Rights, led by its Vice-President and judge elected in respect of Norway, Arnfinn Bårdsen, visited The Hague for a judicial meeting at the International Criminal Court aimed at further strengthening cooperation and dialogue.

In his keynote address, Vice-President Bårdsen referred to the attacks, political pressure, and public campaigns that judges face on a daily basis, targeting both their personal integrity and the institutional authority of courts as key democratic institutions. He underscored the importance of judicial solidarity and dialogue, as well as the duty of judges to speak out in defense of the rule of law and judicial independence when these fundamental values are threatened, in line with the Court’s case-law.

During the meeting, Section President and judge elected in respect of Georgia, Lado Chanturia, spoke about the concept of foreseeability within the meaning of Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights; the judge elected in respect of Türkiye, Saadet Yüksel, spoke about the tribunal established by law under Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights; the judge elected in respect of Germany, Anja Seibert-Fohr, spoke about genocide and the principle of legality in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights; the judge elected in respect of Malta, Lorraine Schembri Orland, spoke about the principle of non-retroactivity in respect of international crimes under Article 7(1) and (2) of the Convention; and the judge elected in respect of Romania, Sebastian Rădulețu, spoke about the concept of lawfulness of an interference with the property right under Article 1 of the First Protocol to the Convention in cases of confiscation of unexplained property from public officials.