Human Rights and the European Court of Justice: An Appraisal

Through the decisions of the European Court of Justice ("ECJ"), human rights have been placed at the forefront of the agenda of the European Union ("EU"). In analyzing the jurisprudence of the Court, one is struck both by the substantive impact that it has had on the development of human rights throughout the Union and by the procedural route through which this has been accomplished. This brief Essay will attempt to highlight both of these developments and explore some of the challenges that the Court faces as it confronts a vastly different world from that facing Europe in 1957.