The years of 2019 and 2020 offered the opportunity to commemorate four anniversaries: On 4 November 2020, it was 70 years ago that the ECHR, was signed. Ten years later, the ECtHR began its work. The Council of Europe had its 70th anniversary on 5 May 2019. Finally, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) established in 1990, could celebrate its 30th birthday. These jubilees offer a good reason to take a look at how these institutions have contributed to making human rights and the rule of law a matter of common interest in Europe, and what their present condition is. This volume contains the contributions on this topic held at the Walter-Hallstein Symposium on 5 and 6 March 2020. With contributions by Prof. Dr. Veronika Bi¿lkovä; Prof. Dr. Thomas Giegerich, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Dr. Rainer Hofmann; Prof. Dr. Stefan Kadelbach, LL.M.; Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Wilfried Loth; Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c., Dr. h.c. Angelika Nußberger; Prof. Dr. Paulo Pinto de Albuquerque and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Schmahl, LL.M.