‘The Court distinguishes between objective grounds—such as the possession of modern technical or financial resources, or the experience acquired by the operator—and grounds that involve a “highly subjective assessment”, such as a project’s ability to fulfil a “societal function” or to serve the public interest.’

‘An administrative court ruling on the rights of a foreigner will…have to reconcile the Code of Foreigners with the EU Migration Pact. This will inevitably increase the discretionary power of administrative judges in migration matters. It also creates the risk of inconsistent jurisprudence or inconsistent consequences for litigants.’

‘In recent years, the ECHR added a new legal rule, a new human right: the right for expelled foreigners to come back to Europe at the end of their re-entry ban.’

‘The contested Hungarian legislation prohibits exposing children to content that normalizes certain practices, such as transgenderism, sex change, or homosexuality…Other Hungarian laws contain similar provisions…These…were held to be contrary to EU law by the CJEU in its judgment of 21 April 2026, delivered in Full Court, that is, the Court’s most solemn formation.’

15 years after its ruling on crucifixes in Italian schools, the European Court of Human Rights has asked Greece to justify the presence of Orthodox icons in its courts. Legal scholar Nicolas Bauer reminds us that states have entrusted the Court with protecting individual freedoms, not erasing European cultural heritage.

In a case opposing a nun to her former community, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is considering the legal nature of a monastic cell: should it be regarded as a private home?

‘Taxpayers want European public funds to be used wisely. Supporting maternity and the family would be the most beneficial possible investment for Europe and its future.’

‘The French Council of State…did not base its decision on educational freedoms. Instead, it invoked two principles from the Education Code. These principles are quasi-totalitarian: “The Nation assigns as the school’s primary mission to share the values of the Republic with students”; “Education is a national public service, whose organization and operation are ensured by the State.”’

‘This ruling reveals a methodological shift in the reasoning of European judges. Typically, in sensitive social matters, the ECHR looks for a “European consensus”. If a consensus exists, national sovereignty is limited; if not, the ECHR allows states to legislate democratically.’

‘Indeed, right-wing identity is often rooted in instinct—attachment to family, country, and order—rather than in ideology or theory, unlike the left, which has always had its “little red books”. The real challenge for the right is to move from instinct and sentiment toward structured political thought.’