Aanhef

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories hereto,

Having regard to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’);

Recalling the European Agreement relating to persons participating in proceedings of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights, signed at London on 6 May 1969;

Having regard to Protocol No. 11 to the Convention, restructuring the control machinery established thereby, signed at Strasbourg on 11 May 1994 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Protocol No. 11 to the Convention’), which establishes a permanent European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Court’) to replace the European Commission and Court of Human Rights;

Considering, in the light of this development, that it is advisable for the better fulfilment of the purposes of the Convention that persons taking part in proceedings before the Court be accorded certain immunities and facilities by a new Agreement, the European Agreement relating to persons participating in proceedings of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as ‘this Agreement’),

Have agreed as follow[lees: follows]: