Presidency of the Court
The President
The President of the Court directs the work and administration of the Court (Rule 9 of the Rules of Court).
He or she represents the Court and, in particular, is responsible for its relations with the authorities of the Council of Europe as well as the political and judicial authorities of the States Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The President presides at plenary meetings of the Court, meetings of the Grand Chamber, meetings of the Grand Chamber panel of five judges and meetings of the Bureau.
The President is assisted by Bureau, the Registrar of the Court and by the President’s Private Office.
The President
The President of the Court directs the work and administration of the Court (Rule 9 of the Rules of Court).
He or she represents the Court and, in particular, is responsible for its relations with the authorities of the Council of Europe as well as the political and judicial authorities of the States Parties to the European Convention of Human Rights.
The President presides at plenary meetings of the Court, meetings of the Grand Chamber, meetings of the Grand Chamber panel of five judges and meetings of the Bureau.
The President is assisted by Bureau, the Registrar of the Court and by the President’s Private Office.
Mattias Guyomar
Born on 21 July 1968 in Guérande, France
- Bachelor's Degree in Modern Literature, University of Nantes, 1986-1989
- Laureate of the Institute of Political Studies (IEP), Paris, 1989-1991
- National School of Administration (ENA), 1993-1996
- Rapporteur at the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 1996-1999
- Lecturer at the IEP (Paris) and the ENA (courses in public and comparative law), 1996-2007
- Secretary General of the French Electoral Commission, 1998-2020
- Director of the Legal Documentation and Coordination Center of the Conseil d’État, 1999-2002
- General Rapporteur at the French Supreme Council for Integration, 1999-2002
- Government Commissioner (“advocate general”), then Public Rapporteur at the Administrative Judicial Division and the Jurisdiction Disputes Tribunal, 2002-2011
- Associate professor of Public Law, University Paris-Sud XI, Faculty Jean Monnet, 2004-2012
- Member of the 6th Chamber then the 10th Section of the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 2011-2016
- Urgent-applications judge at the Conseil d’État, 2011-2020
- General Rapporteur of the Superior Commission on Codification, 2012-2020
- Associate professor of Public Law, University Paris 2 - Panthéon - Assas, 2012-2020
- Member of the selection panel for senior lecturers in public law, 2013-2014
- Member of Comparative Legislation Society, 2013-2020
- Secretary General of the French Institute of Administrative Science, 2013-2020
- Member of the French list of ad hoc judges appointed to the European Court of Human Rights, 2013-2020
- The Conseil d’État’s Focal Point for the ECHR Superior Courts Network, 2015-2020
- President of the 10th Chamber of the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 2016-2020
- Member of European Public Law Organisation (EPLO), 2016-2020
- Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 22 June 2020
- President of Section from 2 May 2024 to 29 May 2025
- President of the Court since 30 May 2025.
Mattias Guyomar
Born on 21 July 1968 in Guérande, France
- Bachelor's Degree in Modern Literature, University of Nantes, 1986-1989
- Laureate of the Institute of Political Studies (IEP), Paris, 1989-1991
- National School of Administration (ENA), 1993-1996
- Rapporteur at the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 1996-1999
- Lecturer at the IEP (Paris) and the ENA (courses in public and comparative law), 1996-2007
- Secretary General of the French Electoral Commission, 1998-2020
- Director of the Legal Documentation and Coordination Center of the Conseil d’État, 1999-2002
- General Rapporteur at the French Supreme Council for Integration, 1999-2002
- Government Commissioner (“advocate general”), then Public Rapporteur at the Administrative Judicial Division and the Jurisdiction Disputes Tribunal, 2002-2011
- Associate professor of Public Law, University Paris-Sud XI, Faculty Jean Monnet, 2004-2012
- Member of the 6th Chamber then the 10th Section of the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 2011-2016
- Urgent-applications judge at the Conseil d’État, 2011-2020
- General Rapporteur of the Superior Commission on Codification, 2012-2020
- Associate professor of Public Law, University Paris 2 - Panthéon - Assas, 2012-2020
- Member of the selection panel for senior lecturers in public law, 2013-2014
- Member of Comparative Legislation Society, 2013-2020
- Secretary General of the French Institute of Administrative Science, 2013-2020
- Member of the French list of ad hoc judges appointed to the European Court of Human Rights, 2013-2020
- The Conseil d’État’s Focal Point for the ECHR Superior Courts Network, 2015-2020
- President of the 10th Chamber of the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’État, 2016-2020
- Member of European Public Law Organisation (EPLO), 2016-2020
- Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 22 June 2020
- President of Section from 2 May 2024 to 29 May 2025
- President of the Court since 30 May 2025.
Election of the President
The plenary Court elects its President for a period of three years (Rule 8 of the Rules of Court).
President Mattias Guyomar
Video
President Mattias Guyomar outlines his three-year priorities.
Official visits
Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye visits the Court
On 17 September 2026, the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr Burak Ceyhan, visited the Court where he was received by President Mattias Guyomar, the judge elected in respect of Türkiye, Saadet Yüksel, and the Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos.
The President emphasised the importance of judicial independence and shared responsibility for protecting Convention rights, recognising Türkiye’s commitment to cooperation. Judge Yüksel commented on the high caseload in respect of Türkiye and the value of judicial dialogue. The Deputy Registrar mentioned the importance of ensuring efficiency in case processing.
Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye visits the Court
On 17 September 2026, the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr Burak Ceyhan, visited the Court where he was received by President Mattias Guyomar, the judge elected in respect of Türkiye, Saadet Yüksel, and the Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos.
The President emphasised the importance of judicial independence and shared responsibility for protecting Convention rights, recognising Türkiye’s commitment to cooperation. Judge Yüksel commented on the high caseload in respect of Türkiye and the value of judicial dialogue. The Deputy Registrar mentioned the importance of ensuring efficiency in case processing.
President of Bulgaria visits the Court
On 16 September 2026, the Bulgarian President, Iliana Iotova, accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Nikolay Naydenov, visited the Court where they were received by President Mattias Guyomar, the judge elected in respect of Bulgaria, Diana Kovatcheva, and the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli.
President Iotova extended an invitation to President Guyomar to visit Bulgaria in 2027 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Bulgaria’s ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights.
President of Bulgaria visits the Court
On 16 September 2026, the Bulgarian President, Iliana Iotova, accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Nikolay Naydenov, visited the Court where they were received by President Mattias Guyomar, the judge elected in respect of Bulgaria, Diana Kovatcheva, and the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli.
President Iotova extended an invitation to President Guyomar to visit Bulgaria in 2027 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Bulgaria’s ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Delegation of the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland visits the Court
On 6 July 2026, a delegation of the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland, led by its President, Jacek Chlebny, visited the Court, where they had the opportunity to exchange with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar; the Vice President and judge elected in respect of Montenegro, Ivana Jelić; the judge elected in respect of San Marino, Gilberto Felici; the judge elected in respect of Sweden, Erik Wennerström; the judge elected in respect of Belgium, Frédéric Krenc; the judge elected in respect of Croatia, Davor Derenčinović; the judge elected in respect of Liechtenstein, Alain Chablais; the judge elected in respect of Latvia, Artūrs Kučs; the judge elected in respect of Poland, Anna Adamska Gallant; the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli; the Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos; and other Registry staff.
The discussions focused on fair trial standards and judicial independence; the review by national courts of the proportionality of limitations on rights and freedoms in the current geopolitical context; recent developments relating to migration; and the protection of the private and family life of same sex couples.
The President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of judicial solidarity and the vital dialogue between the Court and national courts. He recalled how, by defending judges’ freedom of expression in different country contexts, the Court worked to ensure that judges could fulfil their role as guardians of democracy and the rule of law. He further emphasised how the Court remained attentive to the legal and political realities in all Council of Europe member states, and stressed the need to protect the Court’s judicial independence.
Delegation of the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland visits the Court
On 6 July 2026, a delegation of the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland, led by its President, Jacek Chlebny, visited the Court, where they had the opportunity to exchange with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar; the Vice President and judge elected in respect of Montenegro, Ivana Jelić; the judge elected in respect of San Marino, Gilberto Felici; the judge elected in respect of Sweden, Erik Wennerström; the judge elected in respect of Belgium, Frédéric Krenc; the judge elected in respect of Croatia, Davor Derenčinović; the judge elected in respect of Liechtenstein, Alain Chablais; the judge elected in respect of Latvia, Artūrs Kučs; the judge elected in respect of Poland, Anna Adamska Gallant; the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli; the Deputy Registrar, Abel Campos; and other Registry staff.
The discussions focused on fair trial standards and judicial independence; the review by national courts of the proportionality of limitations on rights and freedoms in the current geopolitical context; recent developments relating to migration; and the protection of the private and family life of same sex couples.
The President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of judicial solidarity and the vital dialogue between the Court and national courts. He recalled how, by defending judges’ freedom of expression in different country contexts, the Court worked to ensure that judges could fulfil their role as guardians of democracy and the rule of law. He further emphasised how the Court remained attentive to the legal and political realities in all Council of Europe member states, and stressed the need to protect the Court’s judicial independence.
UK Attorney General’s Youth Ambassadors visit the Court
On 1 July 2026 the UK Attorney General’s Youth Ambassadors visited the Court, where they had the opportunity to meet with Mattias Guyomar, the President of the Court, Hugh Mercer, the judge elected in respect of the United Kingdom, and members of the Registry.
The President commended the young Ambassadors for their work promoting the rule of law within their communities through positive and responsible use of social media. The Ambassadors explained how they engage their peers, emphasising that human rights, the rule of law, and democracy must be owned, not merely understood.
UK Attorney General’s Youth Ambassadors visit the Court
On 1 July 2026 the UK Attorney General’s Youth Ambassadors visited the Court, where they had the opportunity to meet with Mattias Guyomar, the President of the Court, Hugh Mercer, the judge elected in respect of the United Kingdom, and members of the Registry.
The President commended the young Ambassadors for their work promoting the rule of law within their communities through positive and responsible use of social media. The Ambassadors explained how they engage their peers, emphasising that human rights, the rule of law, and democracy must be owned, not merely understood.
Delegation from the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions visits the Court
On 29 June 2026, a delegation of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), a network that brings together National Human Rights Institutions across Europe, visited the Court. The Chair of ENNHRI, Louise Holck, and the Secretary General of the network, Debbie Kohner, met with the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, and the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli. Recalling that the Court is a pillar for peace, democracy, the rule of law, protecting human rights for all in Europe, discussions centred on the importance of National Human Rights Institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights and their support for the Court’s work.
Delegation from the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions visits the Court
On 29 June 2026, a delegation of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), a network that brings together National Human Rights Institutions across Europe, visited the Court. The Chair of ENNHRI, Louise Holck, and the Secretary General of the network, Debbie Kohner, met with the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, and the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli. Recalling that the Court is a pillar for peace, democracy, the rule of law, protecting human rights for all in Europe, discussions centred on the importance of National Human Rights Institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights and their support for the Court’s work.
President pays an official visit to Monaco
The President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, took part in a series of meetings in Monaco on 25 June 2026, accompanied by the judge elected in respect of Monaco, Sébastien Biancheri, and the Registrar of the Court, Marialena Tsirli.
As part of the visit, the President attended an official lunch hosted by the Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, and had talks with the Government Counsellor for External Relations and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro‑Amadeï, the Secretary of State for Justice, Samuel Vuelta Simon, the President of the National Council, Thomas Brezzo, and the High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights, Liberties and for Mediation, Marina Ceyssac.
The discussions focused on the priorities of Monaco’s Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, in particular its commitment to the European system of human rights protection and the events to be held under the Presidency to promote these priorities.
President pays an official visit to Monaco
The President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, took part in a series of meetings in Monaco on 25 June 2026, accompanied by the judge elected in respect of Monaco, Sébastien Biancheri, and the Registrar of the Court, Marialena Tsirli.
As part of the visit, the President attended an official lunch hosted by the Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, and had talks with the Government Counsellor for External Relations and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro‑Amadeï, the Secretary of State for Justice, Samuel Vuelta Simon, the President of the National Council, Thomas Brezzo, and the High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights, Liberties and for Mediation, Marina Ceyssac.
The discussions focused on the priorities of Monaco’s Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, in particular its commitment to the European system of human rights protection and the events to be held under the Presidency to promote these priorities.
Events Presidency
On 17 September 2026, the Bureau of the European Court, headed by President Mattias Guyomar, met with members of the European Parliament’s ‘Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group’ (DRFMG) in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg. The DRFMG is a cross-party forum whose work gives prominence to judgments by the European Court, media freedom, judicial independence, combating corruption and civic space.
Discussions focussed on restoring the rule of law after democratic backsliding; enforcement of judgments of the European Court; the relationship between the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union; and the European Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for an informal exchange on the challenges currently facing Europe.
On 13 September 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, accompanied by the Registrar, Marialena Tsirli, took part in the international ceremony to pay tribute to the victims of the Natzweiler concentration camp complex at the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp memorial.
This year, a special tribute was paid to Belgian deportees, with many young people taking part.
The ceremony was an opportunity to highlight the international memorial significance of the Natzweiler camp, which counted deportees of 51 current nationalities among its victims.
On 11 September 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, accompanied by Raffaele Sabato, the judge elected in respect of Italy, took part in the exceptional closing conference (How to think about the legitimacy of justice in Europe?) of the “Justice and Democracy” series hosted by the Institut Robert Badinter at the Court of Cassation in Paris.
Mattias Guyomar, Koen Lenaerts (President of the Court of Justice of the European Union) and Christophe Soulard (First President of the French Court of Cassation) exchanged views on three issues that affect all judges and all courts at the national, European and international levels: the questioning of the legitimacy of the justice system; judicial communication; and experiences with the justice system and their impact on the perception and legitimacy of the judiciary.
At the conclusion of the conference, the President of the Court proposed three avenues to try to respond to the crisis of confidence in the justice system:
- respecting and structuring legal pluralism to better protect fundamental rights that reflect the universal values we all share;
- fully embracing judicial responsibility as part of the separation of powers and the independence of the judicial branch;
- anchoring the work of justice in a collective narrative in order to meet the challenges of democracy.
On 9 September 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, attended the ceremonial opening of the judicial year at the French Conseil d’ État. Before being elected judge in respect of France at the European Court, President Guyomar served as President of the 10th Chamber of the Judicial Division of the Conseil d’ État.
On 7 September 2026, the Bureau of the Court met with the Bureau of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ). During the meeting, which was a first for the two bodies, the participants discussed areas of joint interest, in particular work to improve the efficiency of justice and reduce the length of proceedings; building and maintaining trust in the judiciary; and Artificial Intelligence and ethical principles. Both bodies express the firm wish to further strengthen cooperation.
On 3 September 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, spoke on a keynote panel on the rule of law and legal resilience at the 2026 European Law Institute Annual Conference, held in Paris. In his opening reflections, he addressed the conference theme, elaborating on how the rule of law can remain resilient, maintain public trust, respond to profound societal, technological and geopolitical changes, and draw strength from culture in all its forms.
President Guyomar highlighted that the resilience of justice is informed and strengthened by the culture around us.
“It can enable our empathy through literature and theatre; free our emotional connections through music and art; and it can directly warn us about what lawless societies, or those subject to rule by law might look like,” the Court President said.
He also cited concrete examples of initiatives undertaken by the Court to demonstrate the value of culture in communicating the importance of the rule of law also highlighting that the Court’s case-law underlines the need to protect culture.
His intervention was followed by a discussion moderated by legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg with Donal O’Donnell, Chief Justice of Ireland and President of the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union.
Former Presidents of the Court
