The ambiguous complementarity of twins: co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe

ABSTRACT The co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe is traditionally regarded as complementary in the integrative process of the European continent. This study argues that such characterization constitutes a conceptual illusion, hiding an asymmetrical relationship with the potential to undermine the credibility of the Council of Europe. Through an analysis of the legal basis for co-operation, an examination of their institutional co-ordination, and an assessment of the operational integration achieved to date, the study illustrates how these two organizations interact in practice. It advances the argument that their relationship is shaped by a functional hierarchy, grounded in the diversity of their functions. By evaluating the degree of institutional and operational asymmetry in the protection and promotion of human rights, the study also assesses the implications that the Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, or its prolonged postponement, may have on the current cooperative framework.