Solemn hearing
On 30 January 2026, the solemn hearing for the opening of the judicial year took place in the Human Rights building. Mattias Guyomar, President of the Court, and Prof. Dr. Stephan Harbarth, President of the German Federal Constitutional Court, addressed senior representatives of the Council of Europe, Presidents of the highest courts of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe, as well as former judges of the Court, ambassadors, dignitaries of the host State, and other high-level invitees.
- Video of the solemn hearing: Original language - English - French
Seminar
A Judicial Seminar took place on 30 January 2026 on the theme Defending media pluralism and the democratic process in challenging times.
Participants discussed four topics: “Media pluralism and the right to information,” “Freedom of information and the competences of the European Union: the case of restrictive measures,” “The integrity of the democratic process and judicial control,” and “The free expression of the people’s will as a prerequisite for the protection of a democratic state order.”
Video of the seminar: Original language - English - French