On 3 September 2026, the Vice-President of the Court, Arnfinn Bårdsen, received a delegation from the External Relations Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which paid a visit to the Court. Ambassador Catherine Cudré-Mauroux, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OECD, thanked the Vice-President for his welcome.

During the meeting, the Vice-President and the delegation exchanged views, among other things, on the crucial role of democracy and the rule of law as means of maintaining peace, stability and progress. They discussed current challenges to the democratic process, to the rules-based world order and to judicial independence. Vice-President Bårdsen also explained the Court’s role under the Convention system, illustrated by recent rulings from the Court’s Grand Chamber.