The European Union's forthcoming accession to the European Convention on Human Rights fills an important gap in Europe's human rights protection system, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, Germany's Minister of Justice, has told the Parliamentary Assembly. She was speaking in a debate on the human rights situation in Europe and urged European citizens to recognise the importance of the Court – this "jewel" as she called it – and of its continued existence.

Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said that the Assembly must constantly remind governments of their human rights responsibilities and that its activities needed the support of national parliaments. She concluded by praising the Council of Europe's leading role in protecting human rights, which now extended to the Internet.