The European Court of Human Rights (ECHtR) uses several criteria/factors in determining the parameters of the margin of appreciation as to the definition or interpretation of a specific right or freedom defined in the European Convention on Human Rights. One of them is a European consensus among the state parties to the Convention. The way the ECHtR has implemented the methodology of finding this consensus has been clearly problematic. This applies especially to ECHtR's evaluation of the discriminatory practice of states under Article 14. Above all, it is unclear under what circumstances the ECHtR takes into consideration the practice of states. In addition, it is also unclear how it selects the comparative group of states and defines the specific threshold necessary for this consensus. It should be noted that the above considerations and remarks are fully justified in the light of the ECHtR's case law concerning the issues of adoption of children by homosexual persons (same-sex adoption).
The purpose of this article is to determine the relationship between the principles of subsidiarity and effectiveness and an effective remedy for the excessive length of proceedings within the legal order of the European Convention on Human Rights. The article assumes that these key principles of the ECHR’s legal order have an impact on such a remedy, both in the normative and practical dimensions. This assumption has helped explain many aspects of the Strasbourg case law regarding this remedy. Concerning the relationship of this remedy with the principle of subsidiarity, it raises issues such as: the “reinforcing” of Art. 6 § 1; the “close affinity” of Arts. 13 and 35 § 1; and the arguability test. In turn, through the prism of the principle of effectiveness, the reasonableness criterion and the requirement of diligence in the proceedings are presented, followed by the obligations of States to prevent lengthiness of proceedings and the obligations concerning adequate and sufficient redress for such an excessive length of proceedings. The analysis shows that an effective remedy with respect to the excessive length of proceedings is not a defnitive normative item, as the Court consistently adds new elements to its complex structure, taking into account complaints regarding the law and practice of States Parties in the prevention of and compensation for proceedings of an excessive length.
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