A key characteristic of the effective functioning of the Convention system is judicial dialogue. Such dialogue is primarily directed at maintaining and furthering the Court’s relationship with the national judges of the 46 European States which are under the Court’s jurisdiction. It reinforces the principle of subsidiarity, which is the cornerstone of the Convention, but also the related principle of shared responsibility, according to which it falls first and foremost to national authorities, including national judges, to ensure that Convention obligations are observed within the Convention legal space.

Bilateral exchanges with national judges and courts are detailed in the Court's Annual report.