Evolution interpretation and the European consensus before the European court of human rights

Abstract

The interpretation of the European convention on human rights has been shaped by rich jurisprudence of the European Court of human rights which on several occasions had to resort to so-called evolutive interpretation based on the concept of European consensus. This article focuses on basic elements of the interpretation of the Convention ant its position in the application of conventional rights. It gives first a general historical presentation, then deals with different perspectives playing a role for a better understanding of evolutive interpretation and finishes with a general presentation of European consensus which is a key element for evolutive interpretation.